The Pink Candle

Some of it has been in hindsight, but I am both excited and somewhat surprised to report what a week of JOY this has been.

Father Adam got the ball rolling with his homily on Sunday. Among other things, he reminded us of the importance and priority of joy – Jesus-Others-Yourself.

Then, on Monday the Christmas greeting cards with joy-filled messages, letters and photos, began hitting our mailbox in earnest.

As I read the daily Mass readings, I found once again a theme of joy and reasons for rejoicing. The prophet Isaiah and Psalms have offered lots of encouragement:

The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. Isa 35:1

Then let all the trees of the forest rejoice. Ps 96:12-13

Tuesday’s Gospel reading reminded us that “he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.” Matt18:12-14

With joy, we celebrated the Immaculate Conception of Mary on Wednesday. How can we not rejoice over the great gift of that amazing mother in our lives? On this Marian feast day, Psalm 98 urged us to Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; break into song; sing praise.

And then, of course, let’s get our ears and our hearts ready to hear about a whole lot of rejoicing this 3rd Sunday of Advent!

The first reading from the prophet Zephaniah contains this exclamation: Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! The reading ends with these verses: he will rejoice over you with gladness and renew you in his love, he will sing joyfully because of you…Zeph 3:17

The Responsorial Psalm from Isaiah 12 exhorts us to cry out with joy and gladness, while Philippians 4:4-7 offers some of my favorite advice: Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! At the end of Sunday’s Gospel from Luke, John the Baptist joins the rejoicing bandwagon in his own way as “he exhorts them in many other ways and preached good news to the people.” (Luke 3:18)

I remember as a child being excited about celebrating Gaudete Sunday. I loved seeing that unique pink candle being lit on the Advent wreath, knowing that Christmas was that much closer. The priest wearing rose-colored vestments made me smile. It was even a treat to say or sing the Gloria after its weeks of absence from the liturgy.

Did I find more joy this week because I was looking for it? Or did joy find me because I was open to it? Or perhaps I became more joyful just reading about it? Whatever the reason, I am grateful for its presence in my life.

I pray we will all continue to search for and find the joy in our daily lives.