“This is how the birth of Jesus came about.” And Matthew sets out precisely to tell us what it’s about. But, being an ancient writer, he does not do this directly. Rather his birth announcement in today’s gospel is more a kind of overture, a symbolic statement of what is to come.
What a great celebration not only of our patron of the Americas, Our Lady of Guadalupe, but even more, a celebration oneness--oneness with the majority of the western hemisphere who speak Spanish, a oneness with all those who venerate the Blessed Mother, a oneness with our own parishioners from the 5:00 Mass.
Thank you, Father Paul, and thanks to everyone for your warm welcome on this Gaudete Sunday---the feast of joyful and hopeful expectation, ready made for a parish named Christ Our Hope! It’s a privilege to reflect on the scriptures and the mission of CCS with you and the ways in which we find both comfort…
Twice each year, priests of the Roman Catholic Church are humiliated by our liturgical norms. On the fourth Sunday of Lent, called “Laetare”, and on the third Sunday of Advent, called “Gaudete,” (both words are imperatives, “Rejoice!”) we are given leave to relax a bit in our observance of the seasons of penitence and preparation, and are reminded that our true business as Christians is to rejoice in the goodness and promises of the Lord.