Fourth Sunday in Advent, December 21st, 2025
Human beings seem to exaggerate at times. This is their way of making a point or to emphasize something. For example, if you are anything like me you might say something like: "I am ALWAYS looking for my car keys!" . . . . or .. . . . "I am ALWAYS paying bills!" . . . . or . . . . "I am ALWAYS doing laundry!" We say to ourselves or to others that we are "always" doing something to emphasize that we are constantly doing something" "I'm ALWAYS tripping over that rug!" Well, in today's epistle from Philippians 4:4 ff, we hear: "Rejoice in the Lord always and I again I say rejoice!" This is certainly good advice for us human beings because, it seems to me, that human beings complain an awful lot. We like to either complain about our lot in life or focus on the negative. Now, don't get me wrong, certainly if we look around there are things to complain about: unemployment . . . bills . . . . family or loved ones being sick . . . . crime . . . . etc. Yes, if we make the point to look for negative things in general or specifically in our own life we will find them. But if this is true, then the "opposite" would be true as well: we need to make a point to look for the positive things in our life as well. Just as there are negative things that we could find in our life, there are just as many . . . . . no, there are more . . . . positive things we could find in our life, if we only make a point to look for them. And when we find them, we should rejoice in them.
Advent is a season of anticipation, of preparation . . . We are anticipating the coming of the Christ Child. We are preparing for His birth on Christmas day. But, unfortunately, our society has turned the month or so prior to Christmas into anticipating what gifts we will be getting or preparing for what stores to shop in and spend our money at. While this is very nice, I'm sure, it also has caused great stress among people in regards to worrying about what to buy and anxiety over how to pay the bills. A relationship with God gives us something to truly rejoice in . . . . a personal relationship with our Loving Saviour gives us something to truly be thankful for . . . . a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father gives us something to look forward to in life. There is enough negative things that try to control our life. Let's make the effort to focus more on the positive things in our life. And the first thing that we should focus on is that God loves us and that Our Blessed Saviour forgave our sins by dying on the Cross for us. This alone should cause us to . . . "Rejoice in the Lord always!"
Please make a point to join us for Mass on Sunday. St. Margaret Church gathers together each and every Sunday at 10:30 am. We worship at the beautiful Chapel at Marquette Manor, located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis. Join us as we listen to the Word of God found in the King James Version of the Bible. We use the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. And receive the Most Precious Body and Blood of Our Saviour at Communion time. We are all busy. We all lead busy lives. Take an hour out of your busy week and dedicate it to God. Give that hour to God and spend it with Him.
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