"Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again. Rejoice!" (Phil 4:4) Today is "Gaudete Sunday," that is, "Rejoice Sunday." We are rejoicing because soon and very soon Christ will come in glory this Christmas.
We are able to "rejoice always" (1 Thes 5:16) despite the many sorrowful circumstances of our lives. This is because we are not only in sorrow, pain, trouble, and suffering but also "in the Lord." Being "in the Lord" takes precedence over everything else. With Mary, our spirits find "joy in God" our Savior (Lk 1:47). "With joy" we "draw water at the fountain of salvation" (Is 12:3). In Christ, we "rejoice with inexpressible joy touched with glory because [we] are achieving faith's goal, [our] salvation" (1 Pt 1:8-9). In the Lord, we are "crowned with everlasting joy" (Is 35:10).
"All this I tell you that My joy may be yours and your joy may be complete" (Jn 15:11). "Indeed, our purpose in writing you this is that our joy may be complete" (1 Jn 1:4). "Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again. Rejoice!" (Phil 4:4)
| PRAYER: | Holy Spirit of Christmas, produce in me Your fruit of joy (Gal 5:22). Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us to receive the Holy Spirit of Christmas. |
| PROMISE: | "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners." –Is 61:1 |
| PRAISE: | "My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit finds joy in God my Savior, for He has looked upon His servant in her lowliness; all ages to come shall call me blessed" (Lk 1:46-48). |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College