In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came to her and said, ‘Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you.' But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. Then the angel told her: ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.'
This week, while adding the pink candle on Gaudete Sunday, we added a new fun tradition to help us is Advent. We made pink “hot chocolate” , though it was strawberry milk and no chocolate was used. The kids loved the pink milk and pink and purple sugars to resemble the Advent candles.
A very important thing to understand about joy is that it is different than happiness. Happiness can change in an instant. Joy is a choice. God offers us joy in the presence of a newborn baby, who grew up to be our Savior. We can choose to accept that joy or not. Accepting the joy of Christ as our Savior doesn’t mean we have to accept everyone’s burdens as Jesus did. We just need to trust and accept the calling, as Mary did.
We will have many forks in the road in our lives. And making decisions will be scary. If we put our trust in God, telling Him we accept His will, the ending will always turn out for the better. And then we can relish in the joy of the life God has planned for us, keeping Jesus in the center of it.
What is something you need to trust God in handling this Advent season?
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is discard, union.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
— Prayer for Peace of St. Francis of Assisi
~Ada LeDoux~
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