Today, Catholic Christians celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of Joy. It is one of the only two Sundays of the Church Year, when the celebrant may wear rose-colored vestments at the Eucharist; the other Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of Lent.
If you have a traditional Catholic Advent wreath, today you would light the rose (pink) candle and two purple ones.
Today, the theme of rejoicing comes through loud and clear in the passage we have from Letter to the Philippians. We read:
“Brothers and sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayers and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests knows to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4: 4-7).
Today is also the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patron saint of all the Americas. Special greetings to the people of Mexico today!