12/17/2023
🕊️✝️ 🙏
For a season so focused on happiness and joy, it can produce a significant amount of stress and worry, as well. Today, 12/17 is known as “Gaudete Sunday” which means “Rejoice” in Latin. It signifies during this season of Advent, a reminder that we should rejoice, as the Lord soon arrives. The Bible readings for today contain an exhortation to have strength and courage because: “They will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God” ~Isaiah 35: 1-6.
This is a great reminder for us to take the time to recenter our hearts and minds to those things which are most important. Take the time today and this week to place the stress, fears, and concerns you may feel in the bigger picture of eternity. See how small they truly are in comparison to God’s power, love, and mercy.
Place the Christmas season in its proper place with a focus on Jesus’s coming. All the preparations, gift buying, planned festivities, money to be spent, etc. aren’t the focus of this time; it is Jesus and our relationship with Him.
Keep Christ in this Christmas. In your heart and mind, be at peace.
“Start being brave about everything. Drive out darkness and spread light. Don’t look at your weaknesses. Realize instead that in Christ crucified you can do everything.” ~ St. Catherine of Siena.