We seem to be hurtling through time! It is now Gaudete Sunday – a time in Advent when we mark the passage of time in our favor. That day for which we long is drawing near. We speak of both the day on which we celebrate the Incarnation, the coming of God’s Word in the Flesh, born of Mary, and we speak of that day when the Second Coming of Christ will truly fulfill every prophecy, truly heal our every brokenness, reconcile every heart that has wandered into or actively chosen darkness over light.

     Even this time-limited event of John the Baptist is a cause for us to rejoice. The Scriptures say it over and over again at this time in Advent, and at this time in our history, in all of human history. “Rejoice!” And not because of who we have become, but because of Him who comes! Amazingly, God has opted to speak to us, in us, and through us, as God chose to do with John the Baptist. There might be a million-and-one reasons we might think “God must have had someone else in mind.” Sizing ourselves up for the sake of a human relationship or earthly task can call for either courage or humility. To rejoice on this day, in this season, in this lifetime because of God’s presence and God’s call takes both courage and humility!

     And rejoicing is more than a matter of words, or musical notes or turned-up volume. Rejoicing is a posture of body and of the heart. It is a touch which holds gently enough to be able to let go, to give as well as welcome and receive. It is not as much a matter of relishing the place to which we have arrived as finding new strength and courage to continue on to where we are being called. It is not as much a crowning of what we have and what we’ve done as hearing and taking up the tune of that for which we are being given grace.

     The remaining days of Advent are a microcosm of the life of grace that spans the years, our years. They are gift without measure or full understanding, asking only courage and humility each day we live them.