December 15

Reflection from Fr. Orobator

Celebrate Gaudete Sunday with Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, S.J., dean of Santa Clara University’s Jesuit School of Theology. Gaudete is Latin for “rejoice!,” so embrace joy this weekend while you consider Fr. Bator’s words.

In Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s classic, The Little Prince, a shy but smart fox attempts to teach the prince the rite of creating new relationships.

Lesson One is the importance of meeting every day at the same time. The fox tells the prince: “It would be better to come back at the same hour. If, for example, you came at four o’clock in the afternoon, then at three o’clock I shall begin to be happy. I shall feel happier and happier as the hour advances. At four o’clock, I shall already be worrying and jumping about. I shall show you how happy I am! But if you come at just any time, I shall never know at what hour my heart is to be ready to greet you….”

The fox’s wisdom captures the meaning of Advent. In the readings for the Third Week, the message of Advent rings loud and clear: our God is coming to meet us at an appointed time! The first and second readings and the psalm resound with joy and rejoicing at the nearness of our God. The gospel echoes this sense of anticipation and expectation, as the people eagerly pester John the Baptist with questions about what they must do to ready their hearts for God’s coming. John encourages them to act with justice, integrity, fairness, equity, and compassion.

As you wait for the coming of Christ, are you already jumping with joy? Are you worrying with happiness? Are you readying and preparing your heart to greet your God? In this Advent season, consider practicing some simple gestures or acts of love that allow you to draw closer every day to God and to ready your heart to greet God.

Also, you could spend some time reflecting on these readings: How do they speak to your heart at this particular point in your life? For whom or for what is your heart longing? What relationships do you long to renew and rebuild?