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Rejoice Always

Written by Aidee Boesen on . Posted in From our Pastor:.

This weekend is the third weekend of Advent in which we are invited to “rejoice.” The second reading gives us the theme: “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit,” (1 Thess 5:16-19).

Let us not quench the Spirit, so that we might find light and life which penetrate the darkness of suffering, worry, depression, and even death. The will of God for us is that we might find reason to rejoice, because the Spirit of Christ Jesus is in us. Whether in good times or bad, in sickness or in health, in times of prosperity or need, the truth remains: God is with us! Emmanuel.

Mentioning Emmanuel, I have now anticipated the shifting of focus during the second part of Advent. The second part begins at the octave before Christmas, December 17. On that day we begin to anticipate the solemn celebration of the first coming of Christ in the Incarnation, the Nativity of the Lord, our Savior. God is with us, Emmanuel!

The God-man, Jesus the Christ, came into the world in human form and likeness in order to redeem us and to show us not only what God is like, but what we are to be like when we are fully human. When we express the full humanity that God has shown us in Christ Jesus, we are fully redeemed and without sin! Emmanuel, God with us, makes it possible for us to rise above sin and death in order for us to be fully human.

Advent and Christmas give us an opportunity to grow and move closer to the perfection of our humanity that is in Christ Jesus. So, more than a memory of a birth, Advent and Christmas lead us to a deeper knowledge of the Christ who is alive in and among us. By this Christ we are becoming fully human, which makes us nearly divine!

In the Eucharist we seek to share in the divinity of Christ who shares in our humanity. By receiving the Body and/or the Blood of Christ, we arrive at that place and time where we are in the process of becoming perfect, becoming whole. We become “whole” not only as individuals, but as a community. Together, in communion, we express the fullness of the Body of Christ. For this we REJOICE ALWAYS!

Peace, Fr. Andy