The Third Sunday of Advent called Gaudete Sunday, comes from the first word of the Introit at Mass according to the Catholic Encyclopedia: Gaudete means Rejoice! Today is the Sunday of Rejoicing⎯we are halfway through the season of Advent!  The Church invites us to adore “The Lord who is to come,” and also calls upon the faithful (us) to worship and hail with joy “The Lord who is now nigh and close at hand!” O Come, O Come Emmanuel: https://youtu.be/aNEC-gMqTGg

​This is the season for gifs to be exchanged—the perusal and pursuit of the perfect gift, the purchase of the perfect gift, the presence and presentation of the perfect gift! (On line, perhaps, due to the pandemic, and you might consider getting gift cards to support small businesses.) Santa asks the children what they want. Husbands ask their wives, and wives ask their husbands. Children ask their parents, and parents ask their children. The answers to this question are as varied as the individuals who respond with: “My two front teeth, a new car, the latest Iphone, clothes, cash.” These are all legitimate answers, but are they what we really want for Christmas, or even need, right now, this particular year? Here are a few ideas that may prove more meaningful and enduring than the newest gadgets or the latest fashions or the hottest new toys.

What I really want for Christmas is a genuine love for my fellow man or woman. This is not easy to do when someone takes cuts, harms innocent children, steals from the elderly, or in greed extorts and hurts the poor, or despite division and politics. In a world full of deception, hate and greed, it is difficult to love; but it is what we are called to do. Give us the gift of unconditional love!

What I really want for Christmas is authentic peace in my heart and soul. Battles rage around us, nations are at war, we are a polarized and divided people, and families fall apart. It is not a peaceful world, but we are called to promote peace always. Give us the gift of peace!

What I really want for Christmas is inexpressible joy. Joy seems to fade as age and disease drain us of energy, take away our strength and our vitality. There is little room for joy when justice and fairness seem to be a far-away dream, or when the numbers of covid related deaths rise, or when bills pile up or businesses close due to lockdowns, or when those many disappointments break our spirit, or pettiness and mean-spirited behavior drives us toward bitterness and rage. Give us joy, O God in the midst of all turmoil.

What I really want for Christmas are those things money cannot buy, time will not devalue, and no one can take away from me. I want the things that no person can give me, and no tragedy can diminish. I really want those gifts from the God who promises love, joy and peace to those who give their lives to Him and follow His Son in a life of service. I really want those things that I can possess if I will accept them for what they are: gifts from the loving Father. They are available, and they are real, and they are found in a true relationship with Jesus Christ and each other.

We know that Christ entered the World as God’s perfect gift: His Son and our Savior. Jesus is God’s gift to us! We can never really ever match God’s gifts of love and mercy, His generosity and beneficence, His grace. However, we can try to emulate His example, and hopefully come close. Then maybe the world will be a little better place for all. The answer and idea is that we change our focus from secular to sacred, from holi-days to Holy-days.

These interesting times in which we live give us the opportunity to step back and re-evaluate our priorities and choices, to also value and appreciate much that we have taken for granted in our lives, in our presence, and right in front of us. Unknowing gifts have been given us, gifts we need to see with understanding minds and hearts—perfect gifts from God. Our challenge is to give, facilitate, express, and support these same gifts for each other.

Last weekend the final blessing prayer before dismissal from Mass said “May (God make) you be steadfast in faith, joyful in hope and untiring in love.” So, what do you want for Christmas? Saint Paul says it all succinctly in his letter to the Thessalonians: “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks.” Can you imagine a family, a Community, a world where life is lived in this way? That would be gift...

Keep singing in your hearts! Rejoice!

Elizabeth Dyc

Just a Note: The following prayer is César Chávez’s “Prayer of the Farm Worker’s Struggle,” which expresses what I wrote about as we struggle in this world. May God grant us all, everyone, the gifts of understanding and compassion.

Show me the suffering of the most miserable; so I will know my people’s plight.
Free me to pray for others; for you are present in every person.
Help me take responsibility for my own life; so that I can be free at last.
Grant me courage to serve others; for in service there is true life.
Give me honesty and patience; so that I can work with other workers.
Bring forth song and celebration; so that the Spirit will be alive among us.
Let the Spirit flourish and grow; so that we will never tire of the struggle for justice and peace.
Let us remember those who have died; for they have given us life.
Help us love even those who hate us; so we can change the world.
Amen!

It might seem forced - in a year such the one we’ve endured - to take to heart St. Paul’s advice to the Thessalonians in our second reading this weekend, but take it to heart we must: Rejoice always.  This rejoicing isn’t the superficial happiness or ebullience of the world, but the deep-seated joy of the Lord Jesus produced in believers by the Holy Spirit, and can flourish despite trying circumstances and misfortune.  It is in Jesus that our quest for happiness is realized, for life in Him is nothing less than participation in the very life of God.  By being transformed in Jesus and conformed ever more to Him, we grow into the fullness of life.

This is the happiness for which we are hardwired, and which should guide all of our thoughts and actions in this life.  This innate desire for happiness was placed within our hearts in order to draw us to God, who is the source of all good and who alone completely satisfies us.  Happiness, then, means not merely subjective contentment, but also real blessedness, the state of possessing what is objectively good for us.  It is contentment, but contentment in the true good.

To rejoice as we ought means recommitting ourselves to Jesus, making His ways our ways; His thoughts our thoughts.  The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it.  All we need do is respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to be Jesus-centered, and come what may, we will, deep within, rejoice in the purest sense and thus be ready for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

David J. Conrad

Last weekend I wrote in my Sing Praise article about finding that line between Advent and Christmas—in order to honor the waiting for Advent and needing a little Christmas now due to dealing with the pandemic, restrictions, politics and murder hornets. This week we are invited to think about the state of our interior lives—the condition of our souls as we prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas and at end times. What changes are taking place within you and in your home during this Advent Season?

​This Second Sunday of Advent we hear about God’s messenger John the Baptist (who was the last of the Old Testament prophets). He was a transitional figure between the covenant God made with Israel and the covenant that was established with Christ. John’s cry today is for us to return to the Lord (remember last week’s Psalm) and to change our lives. That is his message of hope: if we prepare ourselves well, and we empty ourselves of all things but the desire for God, God will fill us with goodness. We could use a bit more of that right now, I think… So, what do we do for conversion and repentance?

St. Peter reminds us that God is patient with us, and He is waiting for us to repent. We await “new heavens and a new earth” and St. Peter warns us to be eager to be “found without spot or blemish” and at peace. Conduct “yourselves with holiness and devotion.” This is difficult to do in this (or any) season or time; we are always faced with this challenge to our choices and priorities. The world sells you Christmas without Christ, and holi-days that are not Holy Days.

If we listen closely to Isaiah today, some “major landscaping” should be taking place within us and in our homes—I liked this landscaping image from one of the commentary writers. Isaiah tells us: “Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low; the rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley.” Think of it: in our conversion we are changing our rough country—our valleys of depression, loneliness and confusion; mountains and hills of sharp grudges, doubts and lies; the rugged land of poor health, addiction, mistakes; the unsure footing through financial hardship, the personal loss, persecution, wounded relationships—much of which has come to light in this pandemic. To change the landscape of our lives is conversion in a big way. Are you making it easy for the Lord to enter in for you and yours? What changes are taking place in your home during Advent that will allow for filled in valleys and smoother places?

What do we have to do? In Advent John the Baptist tells us to repent. It is our opportunity to look at the valleys and mountains we must scale in our lives in order to make God first in all things; to “Ready the Way” for Him to enter into our hearts and minds, to landscape, order and arrange our lives so He may enter easily. We must put the Christ back in Christmas and make our choices and priorities holy ones. And God will help us make our rough places smooth if we let Him. By virtue of our baptism we are like John the Baptist: we also are heralds of God’s truth to those around us. As we live in Advent and prepare for Christmas, we also await the new heavens and the new earth in which righteousness dwells. We know that: “The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together.” Maybe today, maybe right here and right now, in all that we say and do.

Keep singing in your hearts!

Elizabeth Dyc

Just a note: I and another member of our St. Aidan Music Ministry, Nick Canzano (Guitar), will be playing and singing for “Advent by Candlelight” this Wednesday, December 9th at 6:30 pm in our church. All are invited: bring friends, wear masks and make space between you as usual in church. As your entrance “ticket,” please bring money and/or canned goods to donate to our food pantry for Christmas. Since this year the Music Ministry isn’t doing a Pageant to collect those needed food and funds, I thought this might be a good way to help the pantry recoup from our Thanksgiving food drive. Thanks to the Women’s Group of St. Aidan!

Nick and I will be “riding the line” between Advent and Christmas in our program entitled “Be the Light.” It will include some familiar contemporary favorites from both Seasons. We hope to see you there with your donations for a good cause!

More: Thanksgiving is much on my mind. Here is a lovely choral piece by the great American composer, Aaron Copeland.

This brought tears to my eyes—enjoy!

The Promise of Living: https://youtu.be/Rx-dReVRsl4