Rejoice in Hope
Rejoice! What? With so much that's wrong in the world? When so many people are facing apparently hopeless situations that never seem to get better? How can anyone in such circumstances rejoice? Why am I even thinking about rejoicing? There is a reason. Today, the 3rd Sunday of Advent, is sometimes called 'rejoicing Sunday' or 'Gaudete Sunday'. Some churches today indicate that it's a Sunday for joy by using rose coloured vestments or lighting a pink candle among the otherwise purple or blue Advent candles. At least one of the Bible readings used in church on this 3rd Sunday of Advent either gives a reason to rejoice or has a call to be joyful. And that is why this Sunday is marked for rejoicing. Well that's all very well. What if you don't feel joyful today? Are you supposed to pretend joy when you might have many good reasons to feel thoroughly miserable? I don't think so - pretending joy would be to add guilt to the misery and also misunder...