Hey Y’all,

Just before Mass begins, celebrating the 3rd Sunday of Advent, a music video is going to pop up. Cuz, on the 3rd Sunday of Advent, the Church rejoices. This particular Sunday, long referred to as “Gaudete” Sunday, Mass is marked by words like “joy”, “rejoice”, “praise” and “gladness”. So, this music video is setting the scene for our liturgy today.

Now, this video has been around Youtube for a long time. It features a song by the David Crowder Band from 2003. The imagery takes us on a walk down New York City’s Park Avenue. It’s set on a cold winter day, in a cold, gray city. A solitary young man is walking with his earphones on. Even though he’s surrounded by literally millions of distractions, he’s focused by these words…

Turn your ear to Heaven and hear the noise inside

The sound of angels’ awe, the sound of angels’ songs

And all this for a King. We could join and sing

All to Christ the King…

This is what we are to do to prepare ourselves for Mass; turn our ears, our hearts, our thoughts to Heaven. And in doing so, we can reflect on God’s Spirit welling up in us, not just for an intellectual experience, but also for an emotional and spiritual experience.

How constant, how divine, this song of ours will rise

Oh, how constant, how divine, this love of ours will rise. Will rise…

And then comes the chorus which is the essence of “Gaudete”

O praise Him! O praise Him!

He is Holy! He is Holy, yeah!…

This chorus proclaims the truth we confess during each and every Mass. God is Holy. We must praise Him. Heaven and earth are united, really in communion, as we participate in the praise and thanksgiving to God, Father, Son and Spirit. So more intentionally, we…

Turn your gaze to Heaven and raise a joyous noise

Oh, the sound of salvation come, the sound of rescued ones

And all this for a king, angels join to sing, “All for Christ the King!”…

So, today particularly, but all our days, let’s turn our attention to heaven, remembering the wonders of our God’s love for us. And in our daily walk, whether on Park Avenue, on Beach Blvd or the 405, let’s give our God the praise and worship that gladdens our hearts, and brings hope to our lives.

God bless you!

Fr. Reynold