Saturday, December 15, 2018
Gaudete Sunday! Rejoice!
This Sunday is know as Gaudete Sunday. Here is an awesome 11 point summary of what it is and why it is so incredible! http://www.ncregister.com/blog/jimmy-akin/gaudete-sunday-11-things-to-know-and-share-.- I would like you to read this throroughly, then, I want you to construct an argument about why people should wait until Gaudete Sunday to start decorating for Christmas. Make sure to follow the guidelines for a classical argument. Use evidence based on the traditions of the church. You may use other outside sources if you wish including but not limited to the New Amercian Bible.
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In 2002, the total spent on Black Friday was only 416.4 billion dollars and has rapidly increased ever since until modern day where people are spending an average of $1,007.24 totaling up to $717.5 billion nationally (The Balance, Kimberly Amadeo). This is rather indicative that the meaning of the advent season has transitioned from the traditional candle lighting symbolizing hope, peace, joy, and love into a modern consumer holiday where they can get the best deal on TVs, toys, and electronics. Overall, this materialism has led to a loss of morals in society and an increase in consumerism which is detrimental to all of society. So why don't we put the hope, peace, joy, and love back into Advent?
ReplyDeleteAdvent was originally meant to be a period of preparation and vigilantly waiting for Christ's coming and becoming one with the community to celebrate, but it is no longer what it once was. Because of Black Friday and other consumer holidays their outlook on the Christmas season has been manipulated and pushed further and further ahead in order to get the best deals instead of them humbling themselves and preparing for Christ's coming. Let's face the facts, Christian morals are being lost at a rapid pace indicated by the sales on Black Friday especially considering the nation is over 70% Christian. But how do we do this?
Instead of putting up your Christmas tree right before or quickly after Thanksgiving you should prepare your advent wreath and ignore the insanity that is Black Friday consumerism. Light one symbolic candle every week while praying the Saint Andrew's Novena and vigilantly wait for Christ's coming. Wait until it's time to light the pink candle, representing joy, so that you can joyously prepare for Christ's coming in the upcoming week so that you're prepared to love one another and Christ while lighting the next week's violet candle, representing love. That is the cure to modern consumerism and selfish desires during advent, replace them with vigilance, hope, peace, joy, and most importantly love during this advent season.
No matter how early you decorate for Christ's coming it always occurs on the same day, December 25th. There is no point in preparing your trees as soon as possible or decorating the house, it can wait. You're just playing into the modern materialism and consumerism by trying to speed up Advent as fast as possible, instead vigilantly wait, as the bible says, until the 3rd week of advent to put up your decorations and joyously celebrate Christ's coming.
I like your use of actual statistics. Very well done.
DeleteI agree with Bruce. The use of statistics shows that your argument was well researched and that you showed consideration within the prompt. Nice!
DeleteAdvent is a time of preparation and of waiting for the coming of Jesus. To that extent, Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday in advent, is when we are really supposed to be preparing for the coming of Jesus through celebration. Gaudete Sunday is all about celebrating the miracle of the birth of the Savior of the World and how everything will be changed by His coming.
ReplyDeleteOne of the ways to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ is through decorating our houses and putting up Christmas trees. However, each year decorating for Christmas seems to come earlier and earlier. The day after Thanksgiving, colorful lights began to adorn houses and tall Christmas trees become noticeable in the big living room windows of my neighbors homes. However, this time is not yet supposed to be the time for the decorations and celebrating. This is the time when we are supposed to prepare our hearts for the birth of Jesus.
Gaudete Sunday is the time when we really begin to celebrate the coming of Jesus. All of the readings at mass have a joyful and excited tone. After preparing our hearts, we begin to rejoice. What better way to rejoice the coming of someone than by decorating and preparing your home? When we are expecting a guest or someone to visit, we clean our houses a little bit and make them look neat and nice. We clean our messy rooms and clear the clutter. When Gaudete Sunday rolls around, our hearts are prepared we are ready to finally clear the clutter from our houses by putting up a Christmas tree or adorning the house with strings of multicolored lights.
In preparing our homes too early, we can quickly loose the excited, celebratory attitude. Once the decorations have been up for a month, they start to become commonplace and Christmas Day doesn’t seem as much of a celebration as it should be. In skipping that time to quiet out hearts and pray, we can quickly become caught up in the secularism of the holiday and loose the Christ in Christmas.
Christmas is a major holiday throughout the world. It is a time of great celebration for everyone no matter if they see it as a religious holiday or a purely secular one. However, Jesus often gets lost in the hustle and bustle of the season- especially when it comes to Christmas decorating. Decorating for Christmas is supposed to be about celebrating the coming of our Savior. We need to keep that in mind when we choose when to put up our Christmas decorations.
Sophie, I really enjoyed your blog and I liked how you led into all of your points. Great job!
DeleteYou make a valid point in saying that decorations are being put up earlier and earlier every year, which is caused by this materialistic society in which we live in. I enjoy how you included some aspects from our previous blog "hurry up and wait," that of which is you should prepare yourself for the coming of Christ on Christmas.
DeleteAs said in John 3:16, “For this is how God loved the world: he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” Advent is the time of waiting and preparing for the coming of Jesus Christ. “Gaudete Sunday” is the third Sunday of Advent and is considered to be the “right time” for starting to decorate for Christmas. While we already know that Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Christ, by the third week it is finally time to rejoice, knowing that the whole goal of the season is finally drawing near.
ReplyDeleteSurely extravagantly decorating your home for the Christmas season brings joy to many people. However, it is definitely not the most important part. The entire purpose of Advent and the aspect of preparation are far more important than any tree or string of lights. Gaudete Sunday marks the official start of rejoicing, meaning we can finally begin to celebrate the excitement of the season. Decorating our houses surely brings the “Christmas cheer,” but it is extremely important that we still save the first two to prepare our hearts, so by the time Gaudete Sunday comes, our hearts are ready and we may begin to rejoice.
Some people may argue that decorating is the best way to get ready for Christmas, especially if the decorations include the nativity or other Catholic aspects. However, people need to understand how important it is to value the weeks before Gaudete Sunday in order to truly appreciate decorating.
We often say “Jesus is the reason for the season,” but we all know how quickly that idea is lost to taking advantage of sales, presents, and most obviously decorating houses. If Christmas is important to people like they say it is, it is in their best interest to truly take their time of preparation and await the third Sunday to start visibly rejoicing.
Leading with a Bible quote was a good move. I also like your point about christmas cheer.
DeleteI like how you mention that Jesus is the reason for the season and how quickly it is lost during this time. Good job!
DeleteThis flows very neatly. Your quote from John 3:16 definitely fits in this argument. Your closing was also strong and wrapped up everything that was said. Nice work!
DeleteAs excitement for Christmas festivities sets in, families all around America begin decorating their houses for the holiday of Christ’s birth. The decorating can start as early as November 23, the day after Thanksgiving! As Catholics, how is the community to respond to these actions and more importantly, should Catholics wait to indulge in these activities? Gaudete Sunday, or the third Sunday in advent, gives the best answer and advice to this question. As in the first reading on this day, Isaiah 35:1-6, the Bible states, “the desert shall rejoice and blossom...it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing,”. This gives insight on how the Jews felt from fleeing exile. In the catholic religion, people should also feel this excitement and rejoice in their escape from captivity of earthly problems and situations when Jesus is born on Christmas Day. Although waiting until the third Sunday in advent to decorate may seem a bit bothersome and inconvenient, it is actually the proper way to celebrate Christmas. When the people wait and contemplate the true reason for the season, they can really celebrate and rejoice when Christ arrives. By doing this, our hearts are expanded and leave room for Christ to enter and live in us. In addition, the whole advent season is only the preparing for Christ, so why wouldn’t Catholics take their time to thoroughly ready themselves for Him? It’s similar to spring cleaning in that people are riding themselves of burdens or some of the messes they have made during the past year. This allows a clean new slate to organize items and leave room for extra things that accumulate over the months. Just like advent, Catholics do the same thing, by confessing sins and doing good deeds they leave room in the heart for love and Christ. Waiting until Gaudete Sunday to decorate although seems tedious, it is truly rewarding for Catholics so that they are prepared for Jesus in all aspects of their lives. Jesus is the reason for the season, so waiting to decorate allows the real meaning of the holiday to cause hearts to rejoice and lives in Christ to be renewed.
ReplyDeleteI liked your comparison to spring cleaning and how well you tied the two together. Good job Anna.
DeleteThe downfall of the Advent season began with the commercialization of Thanksgiving. Slowly, it crept into every holiday following up to Christmas. This change has slowly ushered away the traditional sense of holiness and replaced it with the urge to spend money on the best deals and toys of the season. Nothing but harm has been done to society.
ReplyDeleteAdvent always has been and always should be a time of peaceful prayer waiting for Jesus to come again. There is no good reason to replace this with frantic shopping and spending. This behavior is detrimental to society both morally and economically. Society needs to start turning back to a time when people came first, not price tags.
While it would be rash to call this behavior a sin, it is definitely a neglect of the duties of all Catholics. Most people forget completely about the Advent wreath, the culmination of the years prayers and hopes for many. Even the meaning of the candles can be lost to the pressures of the season. Society has to be careful to not lose sight of these meanings. They are the core of being Catholic.
Society will very easily lose sight of tradition if it isn't careful. The morals and benefits will disappear with them. Society has to wake up and start listening to God.
Bruce, I have some problems with your blog. You did not mention much about Gaudete Sunday. You said, “Society has to be careful to not lose sight of these meanings,” however, you never mentioned any “meanings” within your blog. For example, when you were talking about Advent wreaths and candles. You said “Even the meaning of the candles can be lost...” what are the meaning of candles? Other than that, I feel that you talking about how people should come fist, not price tags was good.
DeleteA little short Bruce. I think that you could do better, however you did good on this blog, I did lik,e when you talked about the commercialization of the holiday.
DeleteAdvent is supposed to be a time of preparation for our savior, Jesus Christ. Throughout the season, many people get caught up in the hustle and bustle of shopping, giving presents, the over the top decorations, and going to holiday parties. But, what should these few weeks prior to the birth of Christ really entail?
ReplyDeleteGaudete Sunday, or the third Sunday of Advent is truly the right time to start decorating and preparing our surroundings for Christmas. Since it is the third week of Advent, we have already started to prepare for the coming of Christ, but this weeks allows us to rejoice and celebrate for the coming of Christ. The first reading of todays mass states 'The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly,and rejoice with joy and singing...' This verse from Isaiah 35 : 1-6a, 10 alludes to the Jews fleeing from their exile, which can relate to us as Catholics because when Jesus is born we should feel free and filled with excitement from as we had to wait and be patient for Christ to be born and save us.
The extravagantly decorated Christmas trees, the bright, twinkling lights on the fronts of houses, wreaths, tinsel, and mistletoe all sure do add the fun and beauty of the season, but are definetly not the main point of this time of year. Being prepared for Jesus to come to us and waiting for His arrival are without a doubt more important than the bright colored decorations. Gaudete Sunday allows for us to begin rejoicing, as we have prepared our hearts during the first two weeks of Advent. Yes, the decorating, buying presents, and giving presents with and to those you love may be fun, but preparing for the one who saved us is the most important way to keep Christ in Christmas.
Ellie, I liked your blog. I liked how you added Isaiah 35: 1-6. I do feel that you could have elaborated more on why decorating before Gaudete Sunday should not be a common practice. Other than that, I think you did a good job on your blog. Good job.
DeleteI like how you included that this is the way we can keep Christ in Christmas. Well done!
Delete“Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” The third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, reminds Catholics that the coming of Christ is coming soon. With Christ coming soon, it is time to decorate. Bring out the Christmas tree, the lights, and all the decorations. With two weeks of preparation and waiting Catholics can now bring out the Santas and snowmen in preparation for Santa Clause.
ReplyDeleteAdvent is a time of preparing for the true meaning of Christmas. With all of the running around decorating, wrapping gifts, and baking cookies the idea of Christ’s coming is often forgotten. The Church allows Catholics at this time, guadete Sunday, to rejoice and what better way then to get in the Christmas spirit. The end of the preparation period is almost here. The end goal of the coming of Jesus is now in view.
Waiting till this time to decorate may be stressful, but by putting it off Catholics can better understand the true meaning of Christmas. The first two weeks of Advent can be focusing the mind and heart on Jesus and not getting drug into the lights and the other side of Christmas. When the real meaning of Christmas is the reason why Catholics put out the gingerbread house and the Christmas trees a deeper meaning can be found in these items. A Christmas tree or the tree of Jesse in which is the lineage of Jesus. Ezekiel 17:22 as says, “ This is what the Sovereign Lords says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plat it;... On the mountain of heights in Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar.”
If Advent is spent preparing for Santa and not Jesus these connects between each other can be missed. A Christmas tree is no longer something that Santa puts presents under, but a symbol of Jesus’ roots and the fruit and knowledge He will bring. The Christmas season is an extremely busy time of year and Catholics must use advent as a time to prepare for Christ and rejoice in His coming; after all Jesus is the reason for the season.
I really like the example and quotes you used. “Prepare ye the way of the Lord,” really caught my attention. Good work!
DeleteYour opening statement was very strong Jake, nicely done!
DeleteAs Philippians 4:4-5 states in the New American Bible, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near.” Gaudete Sunday has been coming closer and closer every year. Families putting up trees and lights even before Thanksgiving. The celebration of Christmas has become more and more secular throughout the year. Families are not leaving space for the preparation of Christmas, instead throwing themselves head first into decorating and buying presents. Is that really what Christmas is about?
ReplyDeleteI was always taught that “Christ” needs to stay in Christmas. Gaudete Sunday is when the tree and the decorating is supposed to start. The other two Sundays prior to Gaudete Sunday are set aside for the preparation for not just the first coming, but also the second coming of Christ. In the first two Sundays of Advent reflection and anticipation for the coming of Jesus Christ are supposed to be the focus. Even though decoration and having parties is fun, that is not the “true meaning of Christmas.” However, sadly, Christmas has become a secular practice. People buying presents on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Both of those days are great, however, it is crucial to seek out and find in the time of Advent the true Jesus Christ. It is important to reflect on what needs to be changed in our own lives before the Savior of the World is born.
The readings that were heard today at mass are supposed to impact us. The readings on Gaudete Sunday express the felling of joy and gratitude that we are all supposed ti have within us. Gaudete Sunday is the time to prepare for the New Born King. Gaudete Sunday is preparing our homes just like we were preparing our hearts the other two weeks before this Sunday.
Preparing too early gives Christmas a feeling like it is never ending, which is not always a good thing. Having time set apart gives an excitement to Christmas and pushes us to be patient. As of human nature, after a moth of seeing the same decorations we tend to get bored and ask ourselves, “What’s next?” Christmas must not be rushed, it must be savored.
It is common for us to forget about Jesus especially during the Christmas season. It is Jesus’ birthday, it should not a time to forget about Him. He is coming, and He is going to shake our world. Be prepared. Be excited, but hold off on the decorations this Christmas season.
Grace, I really enjoyed your blog. I especially like the part when you talk about Christmas seeming “never ending” and that waiting to put up the decorations teaches us patience. Great job!
DeleteGrace great job. I loved how you used bible quotes to give your blog more ethos. It was well written and very easy to follow.
DeleteThe Advent season is a time of preparation for the arrival of the Lord Jesus Christ. By the third Sunday of Advent, we are most of the way through the season, making it appropriate to rejoice for the coming of Christ soon following. Gaudete Sunday is the complete and loving celebration of the birth of Our Savior. Gaudete in Latin means, “rejoice.” In order to rejoice there are several traditions practiced during this time. For example, days after thanksgiving houses are decorated in bright colors, Christmas trees are put up and decorated, Black Friday comes around, and cookies and gingerbread houses are made. However, during this time we are supposed to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus, not decorate and celebrate this early in advent. Instead of putting up Christmas trees and hanging your lights quickly following Thanksgiving, as the children of God we should prepare our advent wreaths instead and begin praying and lighting the candles of the wreath each week. It is time to celebrate and decorate your house and tree during the third week of advent when we celebrate the coming of the Lord. This is a great way to prepare for the Savior. Decorating early can wait a few weeks. There is no point in decorating early because the celebration of the Lords birth is on December 25 each year. Our decorated Christmas trees, lights on the fronts of houses, and wreaths all do bring joy to the season, but these are not the most important point of this time of year. Being prepared for our Lord to come to us and waiting for His birth are what is important. Gaudete Sunday is the time for us to begin rejoicing because we have focused on preparing during the first two weeks of Advent. We all enjoy decorating and giving gifts, however, we must remember what the true meaning of Christmas is.
ReplyDeleteI like how you brought up aspects from our previous blog "Hurry up and wait." The proposal that you should prepare your advent wreath instead of your tree is a valid point for Christians. I feel as if the advent wreath is overlooked in modern day society and typically the last thing prepared because the main focus of Christmas is now on materials.
DeleteWaiting for Gaudete Sunday before decorating for Christmas is important in the process of preparation for Christ and his coming. Because of the importance of the Christmas season, the distraction of placing Christmas decorations should wait until the third Sunday of Advent when the celebration of Jesus’s birth is just around the corner.
ReplyDeleteAdvent is a time for quiet preparation for the birth of Jesus on Christmas. Meditation, observation, and prayer should take the place of the busyness, noise, and chaos of everyday life. The third Sunday of the Advent season is known as Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is Latin for “rejoice.” It is also the Sunday where the priest wears a rose colored chasuble and the pink candle is lit on the Advent wreath. Gaudete Sunday is an important day in Advent and preparation for the Savior.
Knowing why one should wait till the third Sunday of Advent before preparing for Christmas coincides with good faith and a happy celebration of the holiday. In the following, reason for the waiting will provide insight into the best practices of Advent.
During Advent, the season of waiting, it is important to prepare for Jesus who is the reason for the Christmas season. Preparing for Christmas does not mean placing LED lights on the roof, putting Santa and his reindeer in the front yard, and having a tree filled with ornaments in the living room. This preparation is waiting peacefully in anticipation for Jesus. Every year, it seems as though Christmas is coming earlier. Because of this, the joy and happiness of the actual Christmas season loses some of its value. Only on or after Gaudete Sunday should decorations be placed. This would allow enough time for the quiet preparation and excitement for Christmas to brew. Waiting till Gaudete Sunday for Christmas decorations is important for a faith filled and joyful Christmas celebration.
Although some may argue that all of Advent should be time for decorating, there are better ways to prepare for Christ. Prayer is one of the best types of preparation. It is a silent way to thank God and ask Him for His help. Going to mass often and listening to what has to be said is also good preparation. There are many alternative ways to prepare for Christmas.
Advent is an important time to wait for the coming of Jesus. Therefore, decorations should only be placed on Gaudete Sunday or later. Experiencing the joy of Christmas is wonderful, but it is much more meaningful when a time of waiting preluded.
This is very good! I really like the way you compared peoples' idea of Christmas now with the decorating of lights, statues, and trees versus the quite preparation of Gaudete Sunday with prayer and meditation.
DeleteYou created a very strong argument. Your argument is well supported with examples church views.
DeleteIsaiah 40:31 proclaims, “But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” As stated in this Bible verse, by waiting for Jesus’s arrival will deepen one’s faith and open their eyes to what the true meaning of Advent is. People should wait until Gaudete Sunday to decorate for the Christmas season because it will allow them to acknowledge the significance of Christ’s coming.
ReplyDeleteChristmas festivities start to begin as soon as Thanksgiving is over. When this happens, the whole idea of “waiting” seems to vanish and the only thing people can focus on is buying gifts, decorating homes, and where to go for Christmas dinner. Gaudete Sunday is not only the third Sunday in Advent, but is considered the perfect day to take part in these holiday activities because the Lord is near arrival.
It is easy to say that this time of year causes an abundance of stress and anxiety for many people. However, if they were to prepare for Jesus’s coming during the first two weeks of Advent and spend time praying and making sacrifices for others, then by the time Gaudete Sunday rolls around everything would be set in place and not be so overwhelming. There is a difference between, “Hurry up while there’s still free shipping!” and “Hurry up and wait!”
On the third Sunday in Advent, patience is expressed in the second reading from the book of James 5:7-10. In this teaching, Jesus tells the audience that they must endure hardship and show mercy to those who have done wrong because in the end he will bring strength, courage, and patience. This is related to how Catholics should handle the four weeks of Advent.
Some may say that by waiting until Gaudete Sunday to take part in Christmas festivities will cut the season short. However, December 25 is not about chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Frosty the Snowman, or the fact Santa Clause is coming to town. The true meaning of Christmas is found by anxiously awaiting for the Savior to be born. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life,” — John 3:16.
If one truly believes in the genuine spirit of Christmas, then putting decorations, gifts, and planning on pause will not seem to be a hardship. In fact, it will allow them to focus more on their faith and showing mercy to others; it will serve as a good start to the Advent season and only prepare them more for the biggest miracle in history. A good beginning makes a good ending.
Maddie, I enjoyed reading your blog and especially liked the part where you mentioned the difference beteeen “hurry up while there’s free shipping and hurry up and wait.” Good job!
DeleteI really enjoyed your blog Maddie. I especially liked your quote at the beginning and your reference to Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Pretty cool. I also loved your maxim at the end. It hit the target perfectly.
DeleteGood use of Biblical quotes. The first one really brought me in and does a good job at explaining your argument. Well put tough argument.
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ReplyDeleteAdvent is the season in which we wait for the arrival of our lord Jesus Christ. However, it has been tainted by events like Black Friday. People are more focused on getting gifts for people around them, than the advent season. The Advent season is becoming more stressful for people each year, but that is because they are worried about the wrong things, they are forgetting the reason of Christmas and advent. Gaudete Sunday is the third Sunday in December, and is the day we should wait to decorate for Christmas. Many people decorate for Christmas a month in advance which is too early. Advent is a time for prayer with your family as you patiently wait for the arrival of Jesus Christ. However many people believe putting up Christmas trees and lights is all their is too it. Yes, it is nice to have all these things up and making your home look pretty, but being prepared for the coming of Jesus is way more important. Gaudete in Latin means rejoice, which is what we should all do as we wait for our savior to come. Rushing Christmas and getting everything ready takes all the magic out of the season, you have to let the anticipation and excitement build up to make the season more magical. Sometimes waiting till the third Sunday of December to put up your lights and trees is difficult, we all know how busy we get a week or so around Christmas. However in waiting an extra two weeks we will become better Christians. People need to remember the true meaning of Christmas, and to focus on what it is really about we have to remember to keep the Christ in Christmas
ReplyDeleteGreat Job Dan. You explained this very well. I also loved your ending of “keeping Christ in Christmas”.
DeleteI have a confession to make, I’m not a Christmas person.Not matter how many cookies I bake, not matter how many advent wreaths I light, no matter how many movies I watch, I’m just never in the mood for Christmas. In fact, my brother jokes that I would make an excellent Jew. Jokes aside, I believe the reason that I just don’t enjoy Christmas is that I dislike the hustle and bustle of cooking, baking, and wrapping that comes with our modern Christmas. The weeks before Christmas should be quiet times spend in the company of family and friends, not running around putting up decorations. If we really want to enjoy Christmas, we need to quit it with putting up the decorations so early and spend time prepping our hearts for the birth of Christ. Putting up decorations so early does nothing be cause stress, leads us away from the true meaning of Christmas, and leaves us ill-prepared spiritually.
ReplyDeleteFrom lights to ornaments on the tree, there are many decorations that are used for Christmas. It takes hours to put everything up and out and for what? Plastics lights and bulbs don’t bring us closer to Christ. It takes up too much time and causes an enormous amount of stress, as one is shopping and baking at the same time. By waiting until Gaudete Sunday to put up decorations, some stress is eliminated, and hopefully other tasks are completed beforehand.
Most decorations lead us away from the true meaning of Christmas and putting them up later could help us remember the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas is about the birth of Christ. Delaying the influx of all the commercial and extra things in the home could hopefully remind people amount the true meaning of Christmas.
Putting up decorations early cheats us out of the good Advent that we so desperately need. Putting up the decorations early tricks us and makes our mind think only of Christmas, not Advent. Advent helps us prepare spiritually for the birth of Christ and prepare our soul for meeting Jesus one day. When we put up decorations so early, we don’t think of Advent, we think of only the big day. Putting them up later on Gaudete Sunday leads to more of a focus on Advent and prepares our souls.
Advent is a solemn period of time and in order to truly preserve the true meaning of the time, decorations should not be put up until Gaudete Sunday. As my good buddy the Grinch says, “Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas meaning a little bit more.”
This was a very fun read Julie!
DeleteJulie, I loved reading this. It was so funny and made all the correct points. I especially liked your part about the Grinch at the end. Great job!
DeleteAdvent is a time of preparation for the coming of our Savior Lord Jesus Christ. Advent is the four week period before Christmas that we are called to prepare our hearts for the birth o our savior. The season is one of the most beautiful times of the year but it is also one of the craziest. During this time we go on and on with buying gifts and decorating our houses that we forget the real reason for the season, Jesus. We are supposed to use the third Sunday in advent, Gaudete Sunday, to prepare and start to make way for the Lord. We are supposed to decorate and do all the shopping now. It is supposed to remind us through the whole mess of the season that it is time for Christ to come. Gaudete means “rejoice” in Latin. What better way to describe the way our hearts should feel on this day. I don’t wait to put my lights up or decorate my tree. After reading this I think I should because the Lord has done so much for me and deserve my full attention during this beautiful time of the year. Many times during this season we forget how important it is to be thankful. We should forget about the stress and anxiety we put on ourselves. We need to live as a child of the light and ready our hearts for the coming of our savior. The third Sunday of advent is that last reminder to tell us that He will be here soon and we need to be ready. Advent may b a beautiful season of waiting and as kids may feel like it’s forever but it prepares us for something even more perfect, Christ.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed how you said what the lord has done for you, and how you should change by only decorating on the third Sunday
DeleteThere were not really any biblical facts to support your argument, but I like how you said what Gaudete means, as the third Sunday in advent is when the rejoicing begins.
DeleteEveryone has witnessed it, the moment that Thanksgiving is over the store shelves become cluttered with the infamous colors of red and green. However, this isn’t Christmas at all. Oftentimes we forget the meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate it. During Advent, we celebrate the coming of Jesus. Also, Gaudete Sunday, otherwise known as the third Sunday of Advent is when the preparation of Jesus’s arrival becomes very important. By waiting for this day to begin decorating for Christmas, you prove that your entire Advent season wasn’t spent falsely preparing for the arrival of Jesus by the flashy lights and shopping trips. Instead, you actually have been patiently preparing for His coming. You are also being very respectful by not letting these distractions let you forget what the reason for the season. Advent has always been a peaceful time of waiting and watching. Just as Romans 8:25 says, we should “be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.”
ReplyDeleteI liked how you looked back on Thanksgiving and made the point how by then we are already decorating, nice job!
DeleteYour mention of Romans 8: 25 was a perfect fit for this prompt and description of Advent! It was interesting that you pointed out that some depictions of Christmas do not truly embody the holiday at all.
DeleteI think you used the Bible quote really well here. I also liked that you mentioned how easy it is to get caught up in the flashiness of the season and forget the true meaning of Christmas. Good job.
DeleteAdvent is a time of preparation and watchful waiting for the coming of Jesus Christ within the church. It is an entire season dedicated to getting ready for the Christmas season. People in the modern world choose to begin decorating for Christmas well before this season of preparation even begins. However, it is most beneficial for those decorating their homes to wait until the third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday, in order to truly get the most out the season, so that they may truly open their hearts up for the baby Jesus. This is due to the readings, symbolism, as well as the habit of not making it part of the routine.
ReplyDeleteOn Gaudete Sunday, the priest wears the color pink, or rose. This color symbolizes joy or rejoicing. It represents a shift towards a time of celebration rather than of a time of repentance from the previous two weeks of Advent. Therefore, just as hearts are being prepared for the coming of the Lord, then, celebration should follow that, not before it.
The readings used within the third week of Advent show that it is most beneficial to wait until then to begin the decorating of the holiday which celebrates the coming of Christ. From the start of the mass, the entrance antiphon is calling for rejoicing, as the Lord is near. As the Lord is near, so then should we be called to rejoice. It would not make sense for rejoicing if the Savior was not very close, which is what people are now doing in today’s world. Also, in the readings for the third Sunday of Advent, the people ask John the Baptist what they should do. Up to this point, Advent has been about praying and repentance. However, now it is seen as a time of action. John the Baptist tells them to do good deeds and acts of kindness.
Some people may say that by only decorating two weeks in advance, it is just not enough time for the decorations to be up. However, is that really what the season is about? When the decorations are up for a long period of time, they begin to go unnoticed after a while and are seen as part of the regular routine of things.
Decorations should only be put up the third week of Advent because of the shift in the readings, vestments, and of what Jesus is calling of us. During this time, we are called to begin celebrating. In celebrating this close to the beginning of Christmas, the fire for Jesus will still be burning bright throughout the entire celebration.
I loved how you put the parts of the mass into your blog, nice job!
DeleteYou did a great job with supporting your argument! Good job!
DeleteThe most blessed season of the liturgical year is approaching as the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, is less than ten days away. Millions of Americans have been preparing for the celebration of Christmas moments after finishing their Thanksgiving dinner, which is way too early to start celebrating. As Catholics, we are to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ before we celebrate His coming. By the third week of Advent, on Gaudete Sunday, our hearts will be prepared and we are officially ready to celebrate the Christmas season. Celebrating this season may seem like a good idea, as people assume that the more rejoicing for Jesus the better. However, this action is actually very greedy because we are not yet prepared to celebrate. To put that into a more modern perspective, imagine a Senior class celebrating for graduation over a month early. Students are still required to take finals and must have a passing grade to graduate. Therefore, if they give up on school a month early, they will not be prepared to graduate. They must wait until they have completed finals and are fully prepared to graduate. It is very important during this blessed season that we take the necessary time given to prepare our hearts and to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Good things come to those who wait, more like good things come to those who PREPARE.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you brought in the example of the finals, it made it easier to relate to. Good job!
DeleteI like how you included a modern perspective. This was well written!
Delete“Gaudete” in latin means rejoice. Gaudete sunday is the third sunday of advent. This sunday stands out in many ways. The first way is the candle on the advent wreath is a totally different color than the rest. This color is pink. Pink is also warn by the priest at mass on this day. Due to this third sunday of Advent being so different than all of the rest, people of the church should honor it as being different in this time before Christ our Savior comes. Most people love the Christmas season. Which is most likely why everyone begins preparing for this time of year way before the advent time starts. Advent is time of preparation, yet by the first week of advent, everyone is prepared and is waiting for the big day. I believe by third week of advent, Gaudete Sunday, is the first time Catholics should begin decorating. This day means to rejoice, what’s a better way to rejoice then by decorating? The first two weeks of advent we should prepare ourselves spiritually. The third sunday is when we should begin to decorating by rejoicing! Christmas is a time where families come together in honor of our Savior being born. Let’s keep the preparation in this season for the first two weeks, we all need it more than we know.
ReplyDeleteI like how you mentioned how the first two weeks are a time of preparing ourselves spiritually, and the time for celebration begins the third week. It is important that these two are separated and there is time for both.
DeleteI like how you included the meaning of the word “Gaudete.” That really adds to the understanding of Gaudete Sunday.
DeleteGood use of a rhetorical question! You argued your points well!
DeleteNice job Lauryn! I really enjoyed ready this and also loved the part about "Gaudete".
DeleteGuadete Sunday is recognized as the turning point in Advent as the Third Sunday. The bright rose candle and vestments resemble joy after two weeks of vigilance and wearing of somber purple. The readings from the Philippians and Isiah tell us to rejoice and that the Lord is near. The change in mood embodies what Gaudete Sunday is about. But how can we fully experience Gaudete Sunday when the world around us is already decorated and prepared for Christmas? This is supposed to be the turning point in Advent, but people have already gone straight to Christmas.
ReplyDeleteAdvent is supposed to be a time of waiting and watching. Christians should be vigilant as they prepare for the coming of Jesus through Christmas and pray for His second coming. However, the world seems to be running a sprint directly after (or even before) Thanksgiving. It is difficult for Christians to avoid the commercials, billboards, parties, sales, movies, and advertisements packed everywhere, but nobody ever said it would be easy. As the world becomes more modernized, this will become harder and harder. That only means that we must work harder to be vigilant.
Many argue that there is no harm in spreading “Christmas cheer” before Gaudete Sunday. This could not be further from the truth. We are asked to be vigilant for a reason. Jesus died for our sins, and He asks us to be vigilant until his coming. We must listen to this and prepare as we should. The world has turned Christmas into something it was not meant to be. This is what makes it so depressing for some people. Many people are already tired of the Christmas merriment everywhere they turn, when really the merriment should only be beginning now. We have all heard the saying “Distance makes the heart grow fonder.” It is detrimental to our faith that we embrace the distance until Gaudete Sunday.
It is not hard to see the dangers of society. Most flaws are very evident. That is all the more reason to cling further to Jesus and what He asks of us. By remaining vigilant until Gaudete Sunday, we may deepen our faith and feel further connected to Christ as Christmas approaches
I enjoyed reading your blog! This is very well written!
DeleteIf someone waits until Christmas Eve to purchase a Christmas tree, they are likely to end up with a sad, spindly looking stick like the Charlie Brown tree. On the other hand, someone might get a tree at a very low price, or even free, but that's not necessarily a good thing. But holding off on purchasing a tree until Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday in Advent, and then decorating it as late as possible is a reasonable compromise. Such practices, including waiting to light the tree, waiting to put on favorite ornaments, or even waiting to put the star on, as well as other Christmas Eve customs, increase the sense of expectation and make Christmas Day all the more joyful. Advent is the season of preparing for the coming of the Lord Jesus and by the third Sunday of Advent,the season is almost completed. Therefore, it is appropriate to rejoice as the arrival becomes closer: “The Lord is near.”
ReplyDeleteWe’ve all heard the saying, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” However, a lot of people tend to forget that during this time of year. We get caught up in the fun Christmas music, wrapping presents, and glistening lights. We all need to remember that we are still waiting for Christ, not Santa Claus. Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent is an extremely important during Advent. It is a time in which we all rejoice for the Lord is near!
ReplyDeleteMost families put up their tree and decorations right after Thanksgiving but we should all wait until Gaudete Sunday to decorate. We should be lightning the candles on our advent wreaths until then. By waiting till Gaudete Sunday it gives us a deeper meaning of what exactly this season is about. It lets us now the coming of Christ is only a week away! It is in this time of joy that we should worry about putting up the tree and the lights.
We should not decorate before Gaudete Sunday because the excitement and anticipation will quickly be lost. We’ll get used to the lights and the trees and just see them as ordinary. When we wait until Gaudete Sunday we can keep the anticipation for Christ in our hearts.
Nice job lake, I really enjoined ready this. It was very well rounded
DeletePeople love to start celebrating Christmas right after Thanksgiving, or even before than. But is that correct? If we look at the Christian religion, specifically Gaudete Sunday, we shouldn't be starting then, or even Decemeber 1, but on that Sunday. That Sunday is super important to this holiday. It is time for happiness and rejoice, as the birth of Jesus is close. And since we are celebrating, that means we should get ready for a party, which is why we should put all of the decorations and trees up then.
ReplyDeleteIf we do celebrate before that, sure it will be a fun and happy time, but slowly things will get drawn out and you will lose you excitement and happiness. Sure you might Nottingham out of "Christmas Spirit", but most will unfortunately. That is why some people get grumpy and angry during this time, even though they were happy during Thanksgiving and picking out the tree. So when you are not happy and sad during Christmas, don't blame me. I warned you