by Sister Renee Delvaux
Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday is a call to joyful waiting as we ponder all that the birth of Jesus our Savior means for us at Christmas and as we prepare for the Lord's second coming in glory when He will lead us into His kingdom.
How can we joyfully await the coming of Jesus in a world abounding with suffering and evil? The Letter of James is helpful: "Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord." We are called to trust in God's promise that He will come. Just as the farmer must have patience, waiting for the seed to grow, we too must have patience, remembering that God is at work, shaping the events of our wounded world into the coming kingdom.
Along with patience we need to take action as the farmer does in planting the seed. Our task is to plant seeds of justice, compassion and forgiveness. There will be struggles and disappointments in our efforts to plant the seeds and to keep them growing, but we are called to continue in patience and trust as God establishes the fullness of the kingdom.
Come, Lord Jesus. Come and
visit your people.
We await your coming. Come, O Lord.
Teach us patience as we wait for you.