Rejoice Sunday!

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Today is the third Sunday of Advent, known in some church circles as "stir up" Sunday because of the Collect (Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us;...). It is also called Gaudate Sunday, the Latin word for Rejoice! In the midst of this penitential season, Gaudete Sunday offers a pause in the liturgical calendar for us to rejoice at the nearness of the Lord's coming. Of course this hymn immediately comes to mind as one of rejoicing!

Listen carefully to all of the reasons we have for rejoicing, and then give yourself time to pause and make your own list, and "by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."

"Gaude Gaude!

Emmanuel Nascetur pro te, Israel"