Our epistle for this Sunday (the 3rd Sunday of Advent) was a very short excerpt from Paul’s letter to the Philippians (4:4-7):
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
And it occurred to me that far too many Christians do far too little rejoicing, are not known for gentleness, worry about far too much, and as a result seem to be lacking in the peace of God. And, yes, I’m thinking mostly of the Religious Right here.
(I must confess, I, too, rejoice too little and worry too much. Especially, and ironically, during Advent.)
Same here. That was an extremely appropriate and well-timed passage, and our pastor focused on it for his sermon.
All I could think yesterday morning was I would stop worrying and rejoice when Lessons and Carols was over. I’m not particularly gentle, either, but if God wanted me gentle, he would have made me gentle…