Third Sunday of Advent

When the Babylonians laid siege to Jerusalem in 587 BC

No one could enter or leave the city.

Soon they were left to eating weeds and grass,

As all food was gone.

Those who were not slain by the sword,

Died of famine;

The city was leveled and the Temple was destroyed.

Before the King of Israel had his eyes plucked out,

They made him watch the slaughter of his sons.

And then 10,000 Hebrews were exiled into Babylon for 70 years.

And we think we have it bad!

To all of this, Isaiah offers glad tidings to the poor.

He says the broken-hearted will be healed.

And prisoners will be set free

For the Day of the Lord will come. Is. 61:1-2

Soon after Jesus ascended into Heaven,

The persecution of Christians began.

They were hunted, imprisoned and killed.

And we think we have it bad.

To all of this St. Paul says,

Rejoice always. 1 Thes. 5:16

In all circumstances give thanks to God.

In the midst of their suffering,

Isaiah and St. Paul told the Jews and the Christians to rejoice!

And they remind us to do the same in our suffering.

But This Virus in particular

and suffering and sorrow in general causes us to forget to rejoice.

But Mother Teresa reminds us that,

“We should never be filled with such sorrow

that we forget the joy of Christ Risen.”

Christ is risen,

Meaning that there is an end to suffering, sorrow and death.

And when the Risen Lord returns,

He will bring glad tidings to the poor;

The broken-hearted will be healed;

Prisoners will be set free.

And all of the sorrow and suffering we have ever experienced in our lives will not even be a memory.

Our joy will be so full, filled to overflowing

That we will be incapable of ever remembering

Any pain or any suffering or any brokenness we have ever experienced.

Now is the time to Take off the rags of sorrow,

And Put on the robe of salvation.

Rejoice even now

For we are Christians;

Nothing can stop us or defeat us.

For we turn all of our Good Fridays,

Into Easter Sundays.

God Bless