ADVENT — SEASON OF JOY

The Advent wreath has three purple candles and one rose -colored or pink candle. The rose-color candle is lit on the Third Sunday of Advent, which is called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete Sunday reminds us that the Advent-Christmas Season is a season of joy. We celebrate our salvation brought about by the birth of Christ into our world. Christ is called the ‘Joy of the World’ and we too are called to be a gift of joy in our world today.

Our Christmas celebrations have already begun, the decorations we have displayed, our special foods we share, and our gift giving are all signs of the joy we experience during this special Holiday Season.

This joy that we experience in the Advent-Christmas Season is truly evident in the generosity shown to the poor and needy at this time of year. Donations of toys, food, and warm clothing for those who do not have, are a true witness of Christ’s birth into the world. The actual birth of Jesus into the world was not just a one-time event. It is a repeated manifestation of God’s love each time we bring joy to others.

May the Joy of the World we celebrate now, be with us always.