Third Sunday of Advent

Despite the recent days of hate and hate-filled utterances making headlines on what seems like a daily basis during this Season of Hope, today, Gaudete Sunday remains a favorite of mine (since my earliest school days).

Before I had memorized the entire Latin Mass, in hopes (forlorn) of becoming an altar boy, I had theorized from what I understood of the roots of the word Gaudete and its proximity to the birth of Jesus that it must somehow be Latin for 'just hold on a little bit longer.' I still think I should get partial credit for grasping the feeling if not the exact meaning.

A lot of the warmth of our human hearts regardless of our beliefs is reflected by the holiday seasons that fall together this time of year somehow reminding us, I hope, that we are when we can see and live beyond our differences all very much the same people.
-bill kenny