Gaudete in Domino semper (Rejoice in the Lord always!)

My dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

Sunday, December 17 is Gaudete Sunday. It is a day midway through the Advent season when we are called to be especially joyful because the Lord is near.

In the Second reading for Gaudete Sunday (1 Thess 5:16–24), St. Paul admonishes the Thessalonians (and all of us) with these words:

Brothers and sisters: Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit.

Disciples of Jesus Christ should always be joyful—even in challenging, difficult times—but our anticipation of Christ’s return at Christmas, and at the end of time, compel us to sing out our joy in a special way.

Joy is contagious. We can’t earn it. We have to “catch it” by means of personal contact with others who are joyful. This is the work of the Holy Spirit who spreads joy among those whose hearts are open to God’s love and goodness.

Pope Francis tells us that a personal encounter with Jesus Christ is the source of all Christian joy. But the road to joy isn’t easy. It requires us to face ourselves and our shortcomings, and to overcome many obstacles along the way.

Sorrow and disappointment are a fact of life. Our emotional, physical and even spiritual “hurts” cannot be buried or ignored. They must be suffered. It is only by the way of the cross that we can participate in resurrection joy.

Continue reading Cardinal Joseph Tobin’s latest newsletter.