Gaudete Sunday

For nearly a thousand years now, some churches have been celebrating this third Sunday of Advent as Gaudete Sunday. 
Gaudete is a Latin word meaning, literally, Rejoice!
And, specifically, this is to remind us that the only appropriate response to the Christmas story is rejoicing.
Emmanuel happened.
Emmanuel happens.
Emmanuel is.

This is of primary concern for all Christians everywhere.
It is the very basis of our faith.

Our story is that Mary heard the angel Gabriel sing the Lord’s song:

The Lord your God is with you.
He will sing and be joyful over you.
He will give you life!
The time is coming!
Nothing is impossible for God!

         And what did Mary do when she heard the Lord's song? 
She ran right away to visit her elderly aunt Elizabeth....
And then she couldn't help herself. 
She started singing.

         You see, when you hear the Lord's song, you can't help but start humming along. 
Pretty soon, without even knowing it, you are tapping your foot to the beat. 
Pretty soon, you open your mouth and out it comes.  And that's OK! 
When you hear the Lord's song, you can't help but join in.

         Remembering Zephaniah's words:
Sing and shout for joy!
Rejoice with all your heart!
The Lord your God is with you,
He will sing and be joyful over you,
He will give you life!
The time is coming!
Mary started singing. 
Nothing is impossible for God!

         Really,  that's our Christmas message today. 
Nothing is impossible for God! 

Today, as we go through this Advent season, as we prepare for Christmas this year,
we are aware that it is no less than Emmanuel that was being birthed through Mary.
So, knowing what we know, 
How can we keep from singing?
For Mary’s song, becomes our song.  
For Christ has come, Emmanuel!
To claim our years and days.
Both present now and coming still,
Accomplished fact and dream,
Let us join the song that Mary sings.

How can we keep from singing?

How appropriate it is for us, today on Gaudet Sunday, to recall that when Mary got the word from the angel Gabriel, she went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, and in the course of telling her what had happened to her, she burst into song.
Because, that’s the way it is. 
When we finally get it.
When we finally realize it.
When we finally understand Christmas means Emmanuel – that God is with us.
We can’t help but sing.

         You may have seen the article TIME magazine did a while back about angels. 
The writers concluded their 8-page article with these words:
"If heaven is willing to sing to us, is it too little to ask that we be ready to listen?"  
Right there in Time magazine!

         Friends, do it! 
This Christmas season,
Listen! 
Listen! 
Listen! 
Music is coming from on high. 
Listen!
     Sing and shout for joy!
Rejoice with all your heart!
The Lord your God is with you!
He will sing and be joyful over you!
He will give you new life!
The time is coming!
Nothing is impossible for God!
Listen. 

The Christmas story is about God breeching the barrier that people perceive that separates us from the holy. 
Luke wants us to know in no uncertain terms that the Christmas story is about God being with us.
And this is what became visible that night in Bethlehem so long ago. 
Emmanuel.
God is with us, it was announced.
God was with them then.
And God is with us now.
Emmanuel came then.
Emmanuel is here now.

And so, on this particular Sunday we are reminded that no matter what your circumstance –
no matter where you’ve been,
no matter what you’ve said,
no matter what you’ve done,
God is with you.
Emmanuel!  They said.
Emmanuel!  We say.
And that is cause for rejoicing.
Gaudete!
Rejoice!  Again I say Rejoice!
Let Christmas come.
Bring it on.

It’s about  about Emmanuel.
When we get that,
when we really understand the significance of what that means,
my Lord what a morning. 
How can I keep from singing?
Hallelujah!
Amen. 

 This sermon was shared with the congregation of Christ Presbyterian Church in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, December 13, 2009, by the Reverend Clyde E. Griffith.