During the Last Supper, our Lord prayed for the unity of his followers: “so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that you sent me” (John 17:21). The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 18th through 25th) was started with the intention of joining Christians together in echoing Christ’s prayer that his followers might be one. Over the course of the centuries, major divisions have developed among the Christian faithful, dividing Roman Catholics from the Orthodox Churches, and later, Protestants from Catholics.
Today, we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, the closing of the Christmas Season. We began the liturgical year when we celebrated the Advent Season in early December. Advent is our preparation for the Second Coming of Christ as we anticipate the celebration of His first coming among us as a baby. Then, the Christmas Season’s celebration of the Incarnation and Nativity of Christ renews our faith that God “took on flesh and dwelt among us.”
Each year, we as Catholics celebrate Christmas not just on December 25 but for days and weeks afterward, until the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord. This year, we are blessed to have three and a half weeks to celebrate Christmas.
In last week’s Gospel we learned of Jesus’ birth in a stable after a long and arduous journey. Joseph had accepted his role as Jesus’ foster father and Mary had accepted that she was carrying the son of God. Neither had planned for the changes in their lives, but they accepted them because of their faith in God.
On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, the Gospel takes us to a tender and joy-filled moment: Mary’s visit to Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-45). This encounter between two women of faith—one carrying the Savior and the other His forerunner—brims with the Holy Spirit's presence and points us toward the heart of the Advent season.
Today, Gaudete Sunday, is the midpoint in the Advent Season. It is a day of rejoicing that the Lord will return in glory. Many times though, the realization that Christmas is just ten days away causes stress when we consider all we have to do between now and then! There's decorating, grocery shopping, baking, cleaning, the gifts we still have to buy, the handwritten cards, letters and e-cards. The list goes on and on. We can just feel overwhelmed and ask ourselves how can a season of joy cause so much anxiety!
