The Spirit of The Lord God Is Upon Me by Phil Russell

 The Spirit of The Lord God Is Upon Me by Phil Russell

Third Sunday of Advent

Gaudete Sunday

REJOICE!

“The spirit of The Lord God is upon me, because the Lord God has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God.” Isaiah 61

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.
In all circumstances give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19

And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, "Who are you?" He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, "I am not the Christ." John 1:19-20

Piety
“My soul rejoices in my God.” Luke 1

Study

“Who are you?” John 1

So here we are at yet the midpoint of another ADVENT! (Gaudete Sunday)

“Who are YOU?” The question proposed to John the Baptist rings out to me from today’s Gospel. This is where we are called to take action: our “4th Day.”

The question “Who are you?” applies to each of us on this day and time in “Salvation History.”

If we go back and just STUDY Isaiah’s list as a checklist of how we might “BE” the Christ-bearer in our own ENVIRONMENT, then move onto the “List” that Saint Paul proposes to us in the Second Reading. Apply it as an application to check our own PIETY.

Try both as an Advent Exercise, just in case you need a STUDY piece for you TRIPOD!

As I have found in my own STUDY, this Advent, Isaiah is written in the mid to late 800 Century B.C.E. to a people who knew darkness. They walked in it. They needed Comfort. They needed to be released from captivity.

It took another 800 years before God would reach down into the history and send JESUS as the PROMISE to fulfill the longing of humankind’s suffering. 800 Years!

Isn’t it enough reason to REJOICE because we are “living in the Promised Land.”

Let’s take a look at the word “REJOICE.”  The two Greek words used - chairen and chaironton - are both forms of the same Greek word: chairo. It means ”to rejoice, be glad, full of joy.” This word is related to charisma which also means “grace.” In its broader meaning, it is a form of greeting, such as ‘be well’ or ‘thrive.’ In the Hebrew, it has the meaning “to spin around” as the Earth does on its axis. Rejoice!

“Who are you?” rings out!

Action
Rejoice and GO make a difference...

Jesus said “Remember, I am with you always. even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20.

REJOICE. While you still have time. Christ is counting on you!

Cause for rejoicing ...... Advent 2017 Gaudete Sunday .......

“May the God of peace make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will accomplish it.”

“Do not quench the Spirit.” 

You too have come for testimony... “testify to the light, so that all might believe.”  Christ Is Counting On You.