Weekly Pastoral
Third Sunday of Advent
One of the things I was so enamored by in the church when I returned to it later in life was the ‘Blue Christmas’ mass. In the Blue Christmas mass, which usually happens a week or so before Christmas Eve, the church makes intentional space for our... blueness. It just so happens that the liturgical color for Advent is blue.
It’s true… There is no room for authentic blueness in our culture at large. I’m not talking about fake blueness like vulnerability signaling on social media. But real raw human blueness. Human blueness that we all experience. Our culture rushes us from the chaos of summer activity right to the busyness of the holidays as we prepare for that first Halloween party.
Let’s face it. Christmas time is really hard for a lot of people. When the world is in-your-face happy, it can be... offensive. Especially for those who’ve lost loved ones recently. Or who face dire health problems. Who have maxed out their credit cards by the end of September and have no room to deck the halls or buy gifts.
When our culture screams at us to hurry up and be holly jolly, it makes sense to go straight into bah-humbug mode.
I think our culture needs the ancient wisdom of Advent. We must honor our wounds and breathe into the darkness so as to enjoy the light when it comes. Blueness - darkness - is a universal human experience.
I don’t know about you, but what I yearn for when I find myself in a darker or a more chaotic season is... Simplicity. I need simple space to grieve, reflect, and just... Be. Simplicity is holy - we know this at our core.
So... Here’s to you in your blueness. Even though the darker seasons in life can seem like the end of the world, it is only the end of the world as you now know it.
May the darkness of your abyss serve as a blank canvas for new life to paint Her masterpiece on. May simplicity find you and wrap you in Her warm blanket as your wounds heal and the light returns to your life.
In Comfort + Joy,
Jonas
Third Sunday of Advent candle blessing
On Gaudette Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent, we light the pink candle in addition to two purple ones!
God of joy, it is in your love that we find lasting joy. Keep us from seeking happiness in things that will not last. Teach us instead to find joy in the gift of your Son, who came into this world with nothing, yet gave us everything. May his joy fill our hearts and overflow to all we meet this Advent season. Amen.
Prayer of the Week
Third Sunday of Advent
Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming, that, transformed by grace, we may walk in your way; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Readings of the Week
The origin of Advent as a season of fasting to prepare for baptisms at Epiphany is evident on the Second Sunday, which introduces the fiery preaching and baptismal ministry of John the Baptist. God comes, in the past in the history of Israel and the incarnation of Jesus, in the present in the word and sacrament of each Sunday, and in the future at the end of all things. The preaching of John the Baptist calls us to prepare for God—perhaps in many ways quite different from our usual preparation for Christmas.
First reading
Isaiah 35:1-10
Psalm
Psalm 146:5-10
Second reading
James 5:7-10
Gospel
Matthew 11:2-11
Weekly Grab Bag of Miscellany
If you’re into iconography as much as I am, here are a couple of my favorite Instagram accounts with beautiful stuff. Do enjoy…
Who doesn’t need another Christmas playlist, right?! Here’s one I’ve had on for the last week - Christmas from the Holy Land (Ireland, that is). Nollaig Shona!!
Weekly Posts
Thank you for this. Usually I try to fake it, till you make it and end up on the black/blue spectrum. lol This year I'm leaning into the "blueness" and reminding myself it will be short lived. It is much nicer on the baby blue end of the spectrum.