Advent 2023 | Week 3
Advent | Christmas | Emmanuel | God with Us | Joy | Gaudete
Advent Series 2023
December 3, 2023 | December 10, 2023 | December 17, 2023 | December 24, 2023 | December 25, 2023
Happy Gaudete Sunday!
This day and this week is my favorite in the Advent season, outside of the Nativity, of course.
Gaudete = Latin for Rejoice!
Pronunciation:
Gau (hard G, au = owl with out the l)
dete (e = the Spanish “e”, or like the “e” in the word “egg”)
Gau - de - te. Gaudete.
Early on Gaudete Sunday, I wake up and play an audio rendition of this 16th century Latin carol, singing loudly and with my heart full of joy. Yes, I sing in Latin:
Gaudete, gaudete, Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, gaudete!
Why do I sing this refrain loudly, my heart brimming over with joy? The refrain reminds me of the most important thing in all of human life:
Gaudete, gaudete, Christus est natus (Rejoice, rejoice, Christ is born)
Ex Maria virgine, gaudete! (of the Virgin Mary, rejoice!)
God.
In the flesh.
Born fully God and fully man.
Born without sin, to be our sacrifice to free us from both sin and death.
Raised from the dead to give us eternal life and a home in His Father’s mansion.
Immanuel. God with us.
Rejoice! Joy is found in Jesus, and in Him alone.
Joy in All Circumstances
What if you’re not feeling particularly joyful? What if circumstances are difficult?
You’re human, and you’re in good company with “a whole lot of us”.
Times are challenging in our local communities and all across our planet Earth.
In early 2023, someone online who follows world events closely wrote that as 2023 comes to a close, we all will look back on 2022 with a fond melancholy, wishing for those better days. Well, I don’t know if things were better in 2022, but as 2023 comes to a close, thousands more have been laid off their jobs, food prices continue to increase, and the world is reeling from increases in human conflicts. Then there’s the online pundits who say the war drums might be drumming for World War Three to begin.
If you’re not feeling much joy in this season, you’re not alone.
Rejoicing during Difficult Circumstances
Where’s God in all of this?
He’s right in the thick of things. Always. I have to remind myself of this truth frequently. When I do, when I focus on Him and on His story, my heart rejoices.
Let’s take a look at our Messiah’s mother, the Virgin Mary. Mary’s life was filled with God in the thick of things in her challenging times.
During Roman occupation in Jesus’ day, life was difficult for those under Rome’s governance. As you know, under governor Quirinius, Joseph had to take a very pregnant Mary away from their home, family, and friends in Nazareth to his birth town of Bethlehem—on a donkey, no less!—so Rome could count them in their census (and for prophecy to be fulfilled).
Yes, God was in the thick of things and He encouraged Mary throughout her life by giving her evidence of His presence with her.
Before the journey to Bethlehem, she had the vivid memory of the angel Gabriel’s visitation. Then, after Jesus’ birth, she could recall the shepherds’ visit to see her newborn son. I like to imagine that her heart filled with joy every time she remembered the shepherds’ description of the heavenly host, and that she moved her lips as she whispered the angels’ song: “Glory to God in the highest, and peace to men on earth”.
God also gave Mary the best partner for her journey. Joseph was a godly man who knew God’s word through his synagogue’s teachers. I like to think he would have wiped the sweat off of Mary’s brow while she was in labor. He, also, awaited the Messiah as foretold in the Hebrew scriptures. I like to imagine that he would have gently reminded Mary of many prophetic words, such as:
Isaiah 7:14 - a virgin will conceive and give birth to Immanuel, God with us
Micah 5:2 - Immanuel will be born in Bethlehem
Yes, Mary faced challenges. She lived long enough to watch Jesus be nailed to a cross and die, a mother’s worst nightmare.
And then, Mary saw Him as her resurrected Savior and Lord, the victorious Son of God, a faithful disciple’s greatest joy!
God was right there with Mary, in the midst of all of her challenges.
Our Journey of Joy with Jesus
And, God is in the thick of things with you, dear reader. Jesus said in John 16:33 that we will have tribulations (challenges, difficult times) while we’re in this world. Remember what else He said?
“…be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 (HCSB)
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
One of my special sisters in Jesus is experiencing many difficult challenges. She recently told me that we all need to have the “long view” of life, and not just focus on our life here on Earth, which she calls the “short view” of our lives. We’re living in what many call the “already but not yet” time of our lives and God’s kingdom. We live daily in this tension, awaiting our heavenly home and Christ’s second coming.
While we live in this tension, my dear sisters and brothers, we can rejoice on Gaudete Sunday no matter our circumstances. Why? Christ is born (His first coming fulfilled), and He will come again in power and glory. God kept His first promise, and He will keep His second promise. One day, you will be home with Him. So stand firm during difficult times, dear child of God, and be strong in Him and in His mighty power.
Through His Holy Spirit, He is in you, He is with you. Always.
Gaudete!
Gaudete, the Latin Carol
Here are the English words of this beautiful 16th century Latin carol:
Rejoice, rejoice!
Christ is born
Of the Virgin Mary –
Rejoice!
The time of grace has come—
What we have wished for;
Songs of joy
Let us give back faithfully.
God has become man,
With nature marveling,
The world has been renewed
By the reigning Christ.
The closed gate of Ezekiel
Is passed through,
Whence the light is risen;
Salvation has been found.
Therefore, let our assembly
Now sing in brightness
Let it bless the Lord:
Greetings to our King.
Gaudete, gaudete, Christus est natus (Rejoice, rejoice, Christ is born)
Ex Maria virgine, gaudete! (of the virgin Mary, rejoice!)
If You Know, You Know
Gaudete - Steeleye Span - LIVE 1974 (YouTube)
Steeleye Span - ‘Gaudete’ (LIVE) 2004
And, a Few More
Mediaeval Babes - Gaudete - Skyline Sessions (2014)
The King’s Singers - Gaudete (2012)
Saltabraz - Gaudete Christus Nactus Est (2018)
Maranatha, come (again), Lord Jesus.
Soli Deo Gloria!
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The first half of this comment, " Mary did you know," part #1, can be found here ("Jesus Growing Up" by Sherri Tenpenny) substack.com/inbox/post/139828594 in the comments section. Entitled. "JESUS knew." Printed here. For your convenience.
MARY DID YOU KNOW | Joyful 6 | Singing Siblings | Pentatonix cover | Christmas Carol https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlwBAgxrBds
JESUS, You knew?
"Would you have left heaven for us…. for us? "Sherri Tenpenny
JESUS, You knew?
A long-awaited moment of thoughtful anticipation had arrived, planned from eternity's past. The King of kings must now step down from His place in Heaven as all the angels would thus bow down in admiration, the King, leaving all His glory and majesty behind to deliver hope to a desperately lost world, a hope that only He could bring, an everlasting resolve to the tragedy of sin. Humanity would forever perish without Him. No one in all of heaven would be worthy. No one else could do this loving mission of sincere humility and mercy.
JESUS, You knew?
"He came to his own people, and even they rejected him." John 1:11 NLT
He came and was rejected by His own.... for us?
JESUS, You came down from Heaven knowing that Your own people would reject You. Those waiting would look upon You with scorn and contempt and conspire together to plot Your cruel and horrific death. They could not accept that their anticipated Messiah had arrived, bringing Salvation to free them from their sins. An everlasting atonement that would complete the LORD's promises to bring them peace.
But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. "How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes." Luke 19:41-42 NLT
JESUS, You knew?
Some would accept Him.
"But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12 NLT
Let us pray. . . JESUS, we cry out to You, knowing we are sinners. Forgive us of our sins. We believe in You, and we receive You. Come now, JESUS, fill us with Your Spirit, we ask. Make us new, heal our sicknesses, and help us to bear the pain, suffering, and hardships we must endure now and in our future. Come, oh GOD, be with us, we pray, be with us forever.
"When Jesus heard this, he told them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners." Mark 2:17 NLT
JESUS, You knew?
Reborn from above
"They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God." John 1:13 NLT
"Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don't be surprised when I say, 'You must be born again." John 3:6-7 NLT
Immanuel. GOD is with us.
"So, the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son." John 1:14 NLT
John 17:4-8 NLT: "I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.
"I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me."
JESUS, You knew?
MARY DID YOU KNOW | Joyful 6 | Singing Siblings | Pentatonix cover | Christmas Carol https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlwBAgxrBds
GOD bless you all!
Rejoice! Rejoice!
"Yes, God was in the thick of things and He encouraged Mary throughout her life by giving her evidence of His presence with her." Jenise Cook
Mary, did you know?
Standing near the cross were Jesus' mother, and his mother's sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene." John 19:25 NLT
Dear Mary, did you know you would be standing there someday looking up at your Son as He hung nailed above you on that cross? Oh Mary, a chosen woman from among many, did you know that your heart would be crushed with overwhelming sadness as you looked into the eyes of your beloved Son, Yeshua.
Mary, did you know?
"Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, "God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed." Luke 1:42 NLT
Oh, my dear, beautiful Mary, still blessed above all women because your Son will rise soon, and your child will bless all people everywhere, for He will save them from their sins, so all who call out to Him will find everlasting peace.
Mary, did you know?
Acts 2:21-24 NLT: "But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved."
People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip."
Mary, did you know?
Oh, our dear Mary, did you know your life would impact all of Humanity? Mary, thank you, wonderful woman, from all the hearts who are grateful for everything you did. All your precious tears of sadness have now forever turned to joy.
"Rejoice, rejoice!
Christ is born
Of the Virgin Mary –
Rejoice!"
MARY DID YOU KNOW | Joyful 6 | Singing Siblings | Pentatonix cover | Christmas Carol https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlwBAgxrBds
GOD bless you all!