The Discipline of Rejoicing Gives Birth to Hope

On the Third Sunday of Advent, we are reminded of such an integral aspect of our relational experience with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The name of this Mass in Latin is Gaudete, a word that means "rejoice." St. Paul, in Philippians 4, teaches us to rejoice and that we are to rejoice even in times of anxiousness and troubling times and events. Our intercessions and cries in our times of suffering are to be interlaced with praise to God. Today we talk about keeping a living remembrance of the loving works of God on our behalf. For it is rejoicing that gives birth to hope and protects us from despair.