This coming Sunday is traditionally known as Gaudate Sunday, from the Latin reading that was said before the priest celebrated mass. Gaudate is the Latin word meaning rejoice and the reading was from one of St Paul’s letters; “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice”. Two weeks before Christmas, it is not always easy to find the time to draw breath, never mind rejoice. This coming week I am off to Belfast for a scientific meeting; back on Thursday, carol service on Friday, then Sunday, then Monday… I am sure it is much worse for all with big families. However, we are really missing something important if we have no time for joy at Christmas. The conventional piety is that we ought to feel gratitude at God’s gift to us of Jesus but I’ve never been very comfortable with that approach; it uses the language of duty and obligation, not of joy and rejoicing. For me, that comes in the words and music of Christmas or the crisp winter days. However it works for you, I pray (yes, really…) that you will experience rejoicing this Christmas.
Rev David Poyner