Advent Day Sixteen: Gaudete Sunday

The third Sunday in Advent, break out the rose colored robes and rejoice!

Advent Day 16: Gratitude is the open door to abundance.

Growing up I loved this Sunday, one of us lit the match to light the pink candle in the Advent wreath, the priest wore a rose colored robe, and hope seemed to flow like water throughout the church and our home. Maybe this is the origin of when my sister and I would skip around the dining room table singing purple and pink, purple and pink, lala lala lala lala purple and pink, purple and pink, and who knows how the words used to go. But we were rejoicing! And singing the glory of these Advent colors.

As I sit here in my studio, I keep coming back to one of the lectionary readings for today, Philippians 4:4-7, here’s a portion of it from the Harper Collins Study Bible. Paul is the author, writing from jail to the people of Philippi. This passage is particularly good for me, actually any passage that tells me not to worry is good for me! Paul reminds me to do everything with a mind towards gratitude and thanksgiving, and to keep my lines of communication to God open, promising peace in my heart and mind. How can I not rejoice about that, so I will.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hears and your minds.