Vatican City, Dec 16, 2007 / 09:36 am
Is it possible to live with Christian joy in a world such as ours? This is the question that Pope Benedict answered this morning as he reflected on the feast celebrated today—“Gaudete” (Rejoice) Sunday.
The Pope answered this pressing question by explaining that, “men and women of all ages and social status, have happily devoted their lives to others,” these people, "who love as Christ loves; and avoid the values of the world, which preaches "the pursuit of pleasure at any cost," are able to live in Christian joy.
Faced with thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, Pope Benedict XVI recalled that on this third Sunday of Advent, also known as "Gaudete" Sunday, the Church invites us to live joy with the words of St. Paul in his Letter to the Philippians: "Gaudete in Domino semper - Rejoice in the Lord always."
"The Apostle urges Christians to rejoice because the coming of the Lord, that is, his glorious return, is sure and not delayed,” continued the Pope. The Church itself makes the same invitation, “as it prepares to celebrate Christmas and directs its gaze always towards Bethlehem. Indeed, we expect with some hope the second coming of Christ, because we have known the first."