This Sunday is Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete means “rejoice”. It takes its name from the entrance antiphon for the Mass:

Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico gaudete!

(Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say, rejoice!)

Whereas the first week of Advent had urged us to be alert for the coming of our Christ, and last week pointed out to us our duty to prepare his way, this Sunday and this week have a different feel: rejoice! The Lord is near.

The third candle on our advent wreath reminds us that Christ, who is the light of the world, transforms all that he touches. The royal purple is turned to pink (actually, rose) and expresses our hope that our lives, too, will be changed at his coming.

We pray that we will become more transparent, more honest, with ourselves and with each other. We ask that our inner beauty will be allowed to shine out to the world and no longer be obscured by the shadows of our insecurity.

Grammatically, gaudete is an imperative: in other words, a command. “Rejoice! Rejoice! The Lord is near.” So how do you plan to rejoice today or later this week? Maybe this is something you can discuss with family and friends.