Week Three - REJOICE

The 3rd week of Advent the word is: “REJOICE”

Second Reading:

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.
-Philippians 4:4-7

• Rejoice in the Lord always.  I shall say it again; rejoice!

• Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, 

• by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your request known to God.

DURING GOOD AND DIFFICULT TIMES.

We rejoice because we are loved by God:

• And we are his greatest masterpiece in creation.

First Reading:

The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, he will sing joyfully because of you…
-Zephaniah 3:17

It is easy to rejoice in good times…. But what about difficult times?

St. John Chrysostom: comments on this “rejoicing”, saying, IT IS NOT…. 

• “ … separate from Grief, for indeed it is rather deeply connected with grief.  

• The one who grieves for his “own wrongdoing” and confesses it, is joyful.

WE are all sinners… For this reason, God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to rescue us from ourselves.

I came that you may have life and have it in abundance.
-John 10:10

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine… Because you are precious in my eyes and glorious, and because I love you.
-Isaiah 43:1-7

The Litany of Trust (read a few of these)

• So, when I am freed from these lies and false beliefs.

Then, I can rejoice in the Lord!!!!

• Stay with Him, be present to Him.  

• Because I have “looked in” and have been set free from the isolation from those lies.

I can truly experience God’s love now, because I have been set free…. I can HOPE!

I can BELIEVE IN THE PROMISE!!!!