Dear Church Family,
Wow! It is almost unbelievable that it is already Gaudette—a rejoice Sunday. We proclaim that by wearing pink or rose. There are so many words present in the scriptures today that have to do with rejoicing. It is also a positive thing of God’s glorious coming. Listen to Isaiah very carefully as he says, “The desert will exult and bloom so rejoice with a joyful song, the glory, the splendor and He will strengthen and make firm.” He says, “The lamb will leap like a stag, just as the deer is able to travel so fast.” All this is what we are about; joy and gladness will meet and sorrow and mourning will flee.”
Church, I feel a certain spirit of rejoicing already and probably you do too as you go and try to pick up a few baskets of food for some of the people you know that stand in need. That will be happening after Mass from 12 to 3. I hope everything runs smoothly. We will also give baskets out all next week. A lot of people help us so there is a lot of good feelings of joy, even though it is a project that takes a lot of money and work.
In the Letter to James, he says, “Be patient until the coming of the Lord.” Then he uses the image of the farmer waiting as the seeds are put into the ground and dies in the winter and sprouts in the Spring. The Coming of the Lord is here. In our Gospel, today we see Jesus coming, but first we hear all about John the Baptist proclaiming Jesus and he is preparing the way of the Lord. The disciples of John asked, “Are you the Messiah?” He simple says, “Look at all the things that are happening: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” The Lord takes in everybody, so rejoice.
That’s a good message for us to hear this Sunday of Rejoicing. We prepared for it on last Thursday by celebrating the Holy Day, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother being conceived without sin. We give her all veneration and respect and we know that she just leads us to Jesus. Then, we have the way that our Blessed Mother blessed and anointed this country, all of North America on Monday by coming to the peasant people, all of Guadalupe. Our Lady of Guadalupe is so significant a feast day for all of the people of that back ground.
Congratulations as you enter into your spirit. Finally, as we have celebrated the Immaculate Conception and then the next day Our Lady of Guadalupe. We now just celebrate that God is near with all this joy and activity. It is good to proclaim that God is near. Have a continued good Advent. Be ready this coming Sunday to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation with us.
Love, Fr. Bob
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