Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This is our third week of Advent and the third part of our series on angels, which come as a good reminder as we prepare for Christmas. I hope and pray that you are developing a relationship with your angel and that he or she is helping you to pray and wait for the Lord to come. Last week we spoke about what angels do: they console us and help keep us on track and reveal God’s glory. And you can also act like an angel or messenger for others; I know that you are not really an angel!
Today is also Gaudete Sunday which comes from the Latin word meaning rejoice! As we get closer to Christmas we ought to be rejoicing always. Yes, even in traffic or when behind in school or when work is intense. Not only is it difficult to be joyful at these times, it is impossible. But God is not asking for you to do this on your own; it is a gift of the Holy Spirit and a fruit of prayer. So today is a good time to recommit yourself to make room for God each day, for five or six minutes. It is a great way to start the day and it has a huge affect on how your day goes.
Paul is even suggesting something more; he is telling us to pray always, in all circumstances for this is what God wants. Paul speaks about constant prayer in the context of gratitude and gratefulness. Worship is giving value to something by attention. We worship what we think will give value and meaning to our lives. You and I were made to worship; it is like eating or drinking. You do worship but what is it that you worship? Many people go to worship at the Metlife stadium each weekend; it is the biggest church in the area. You can enjoy football and your children, but you ought not to worship them.
Worship can be a part of your whole life. It is what angels do; they worship God with all of their being. The angels sing, “Holy, holy, holy Lord, God the Almighty,” as we say in Mass every week. What you practice here in church should lead you to do it all week long, in some way.
Let us imitate John the Baptist who came to give witness to the light; he was not the light but he led others to it. He was a foil that set off the light; this is what a Christian does. Let us ask in every Eucharist for the grace to witness to those people around us. It may sound threatening but you only need to say what God has done for you this year or in your life. When you do give witness it also reminds you that God was the one who helped you; you did not do it on your own.