Rejoice, Gaudete, Rejoice in the Lord always.

You may be thinking – sure, that’s easy for you to say, Paul. You don’t know my personal life or about the horrible violence, division, and even hatred in the world today.

But Paul did write this letter from his cell in a Roman prison.  Things weren’t exactly looking up for him. And the Christians in the new church of Philippi were living daily with opposition all around them.  Paul wrote them this letter to encourage them to stay persistent in faith. Maybe Paul did understand troubled times and he still used the word rejoice or joy language sixteen times in his letter.

Today, as in the past, we are asked to realize that whatever fears, worries, concerns we have, GOD IS NEAR.  This week the Spirit, through Paul, calls us to reflect on God’s redeeming actions for us personally, for others, and all creation. Even when personal circumstances or perhaps what we hear on the evening news, telling us of horrific pain, war, and devastation, could lead us to think for a moment that some power other than God is winning, God, gentle, loving, caring, powerful, is NEAR. 

In a theology class I had years ago, the professor said, “What would ever make you think that we human beings could ever create a problem or make a mess so big that a God couldn’t use it for good?” I think of this often. Do I really believe God is caring, powerful, all present? Do I doubt the infinite creativity of the Divine always working among us? Do I believe that Goodness/God is more powerful than any evil?

Sometimes it does seem to me that some of us humans are trying to stump God. Well, we can’t! God will win – just maybe not on my timeline. This is the truth of our God.

 Paul tells the Philippians and us, in a Spirit of thanksgiving, to pray. Praised be God! Our Savior is near.  Thank you! Advent is a special time to recall this nearness. Rejoicing may not be on the surface of our consciousness. Some days we may have to dig down into ourselves to find it, but the Spirit guides us. In thankfulness we will let the joy come forward. It is for the good of ourselves and the world, and it’s needed badly.

How do we do this every day?  Paul tells us in Verse 8 when he writes, “Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  Keep on doing the things that you have learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.”

This week, as we continue to recall the coming of Jesus to be among us, and our waiting to the second coming of Christ, let’s recall the goodness of God – God near to us in moments of closeness and joy, and in good people around us.  As Paul says, just keep on keeping on and the good God of Peace will be with you. Peace, our Advent gift!

In confidence we, too, can say: “Rejoice, Gaudete, rejoice and know that God is near!”

For Reflection:

• Have you ever had a time when things were going really well, when it was easy to find joy? As you get in touch with this experience, did you feel like God was near? What was God like?

• Have you ever had a particularly difficult time, a time when it was hard to find any joy? How was God with you?

• As you take some time with this reading from Philippians, what us God saying to you? What do you want to say to God?

By Sr. Alice Gerdeman

Sr. Alice, a Sister of Divine Providence, has a background in leadership, education, and peace and justice work. This October she was one of the sisters who participated in Nuns on the Bus, NETWORK’s traveling education and advocacy program. She journeyed with sisters and other advocates to call on Catholics and people of goodwill to be multi-issue voters for the common good.