Fr. Simon's Letter - December 17, 2023

One week before Christmas, with the third Sunday of Advent, known as ‘Gaudete Sunday,’ there is a marked shift in the focus of our Advent preparation. There is a lighter mood, and a heightened sense of joyous anticipation proclaimed through the readings. For the first two weeks of Advent, the focus can be summed up in the phrase, “The Lord is coming.” But beginning this week with Gaudete Sunday, the summary might be, “The Lord is near.” 

Our celebration this weekend is a reminder that the God who loves us is still in charge, and that we await His coming, not with fear but with tremendous joy. This is a feeling that comes from having learnt to be aware of the presence God in us, as well as in the world around us. This feeling is a consistent feeling that never leaves us. It may be low intensity at times, a bit like the background noise of the sea, or the low rumble of distant highway traffic. But we can tune in to it without effort. This is what enabled St. Paul to write, “Be happy at all times.”

There will be a lot of people wishing each other happiness over the next couple of weeks. Paul expressed the hope that the Thessalonians would “be happy at all times”– not just at Christmas. Is it as easy as that? Or just wishful thinking? I do think that Paul was on to something; and that perhaps Advent is an appropriate time to think about it. Let us look at some of the things he suggested to the Thessalonians.

He said, “Pray constantly.” Now there is prayer … and there is prayer. I think Paul meant, “Get in contact with God. Stop talking so much – and listen more. Try to sharpen your sense of God’s constant presence within you.” When two people are in love, they are somehow never far from each other’s thoughts. We cannot keep God constantly in the forefront of our consciousness; we would get in an enormous mess if we did. But it is possible to do it sometimes; and sometimes can become often. And the more often it becomes, the more easily God can slip to the front of the mind whenever opportune. This prayerful connection to the presence of the God who loves us is a guaranteed source of growing happiness and constant joy.

Paul then added, “For all things give thanks to God.” For “all things”! Can you thank God for all things? The ability to be thankful for all things is perhaps, a function of growth. I think it flows from the constant, or at least frequent, sense that God is somehow always with us; and that God always loves us, respects us, takes us seriously, treats us as adults; and is simply and necessarily the source of life - somehow. 

But to grow into this knowledge, we need to learn to listen and to observe. We need to learn to be comfortable letting go of our programmed expectations of God, and get comfortable with a God of surprises. Perhaps that is what Paul was referring to when he said, “Never treat the gift of prophecy with contempt.” Prophets think ‘outside the square’, and can challenge us to find God where and when we least expect. “For all things give thanks to God.” Life is so different when we become spontaneously grateful.

All this can be learnt, but it takes time. As we heard today in the response to the first reading, the Advent Mary was able to proclaim exuberantly, “My spirit rejoices in God my savior.” Get to know God well enough, and we cannot help but “rejoice in God.” Mary did just that. As the Christmas stories will soon remind us, she learnt to “treasure” her experience and “ponder it in her heart” over time. There is time for us. What we begin in Advent, we can continue over the rest of the year.

Please note that next Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Advent, is also Christmas Eve. In anticipation of the Christmas Eve Masses, the 12:30 pm Mass next Sunday is cancelled.

Blessings!!