Friday the Sixth Week of Easter

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn,
while the world rejoices;
you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.
When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived;
but when she has given birth to a child,
she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy
that a child has been born into the world.
So you also are now in anguish.
But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice,
and no one will take your joy away from you.
On that day you will not question me about anything.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.”
John 16:20-23

Prayer

Dear Father how true these words are. We do not have joy unless it is lived in you. We rejoice because we have seen you in everything that is you. There are no more questions to be asked, because on that day our joy is complete and it will not be taken away from us. How wonderful you are that our lives are filled with your love for always. May we in Jesus' name convert our hearts to your love and will. Amen

Third Sunday of Advent

Advent Prayer

Father in heaven, our hearts desire the warmth of your love and our minds are searching for the light of your Word. Increase our longing for Christ our Savior and give us the strength to grow in love, that the dawn of his coming may find us rejoicing in his presence and welcoming the light of his truth. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

Brothers and sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always.I shall say it again: rejoice!
Philippians 4:4

Reflection:
Rejoice, rejoice and be glad for our Lord is coming. There is a lot of joy in today's readings. We have in the first reading a way to let our joy shine, by singing with joy. It resonates from our souls the joy we sing. How a song becomes radiant when we are joyful in our hearts.

In the second reading we are to rejoice in the Lord always, and a blessing it is to do so. When we love God with all our hearts, minds, souls and body we have joy. We do acts of kindness without thought to ourselves. We joyfully rejoice and proclaim the coming birth of our Lord. We joyfully proclaim his undying love for all the world.

Just as we sing praises of those we love, we do so out of faithfulness and loyalty to a God who has done great things for us. Long before our family and friends have been around, God has always been here for us. Rejoice, for his love is great. Rejoice for all the good he has done for you. Rejoice for the life he has given us. Rejoice, rejoice for our Lord will be born to save us. Let the joy in our hearts this Advent season welcome the Christ child. Let the joy shine brightly for all we come near to see.

Let this season of Advent bring us closer to a loving God, who wants nothing more than our love and fidelity. God Bless