Bishops' Schedules: Bishop Robert C. Morlino Sunday, December 18, 2005 11 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at the Celebration of the Eucharist, Bishop's Stational Mass, St. Patrick Church, Madison 4 p.m. -- Preside at Lessons & Carols with the Diocesan Choir, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Wednesday, December 21, 2005 6 p.m. -- Speak at Serra Club Christmas Celebration, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Bishop William H. Bullock Tuesday, December 20, 2005 10:30 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at the Celebration of the Eucharist, Meriter Nursing Home, Madison Wednesday, December 21, 2005 6 p.m. -- Attend the Serra Club Christmas Celebration, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Bishop George O. Wirz Monday, December 19, 2005 7 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at the Celebration of the Eucharist and Christmas Novena, Schoenstatt Heights, Madison Wednesday, December 21, 2005 7 p.m. -- Sacramental Confession, Holy Mother of Consolation Parish, Oregon

Rejoice Sunday: Refrain from negative response

		Under the Gospel Book + Bishop Robert C. Morlino

Dear Friends,

This past Sunday we celebrated Gaudete (Latin for Rejoice) Sunday. It is a time for us to anticipate the joy of Christmas which St. Paul tells us is rooted in the virtue of forbearance.

He tells us to rejoice always and to let our forbearance be known to all. The virtue of forbearance is what allows us to rejoice always. It is hard to believe that someone could be given the gift always to be happy, and yet that is the power which the resurrection victory of Jesus Christ places at the core of your heart and mine as we prepare to celebrate Christmas.

Forbearance means a holding back from rash thoughts, rash judgments, or rash behavior. All of us find ourselves being troubled or hurt or offended by the thoughts, the judgments, and the behavior of others at times.

Rejoice Sunday calls us to hold back from responding in a way that is rash or that "shoots from the hip." I have written many times about placing the best possible interpretation on the words and the deeds of others and about how important it is to give them the benefit of the doubt. This attitude gives us peace so that we can genuinely receive the gift of God's presence through prayer, and the gift of that presence abides with us always as joy.

And so during Advent, let us examine our conscience about our desire to forbear, to hold back, when we are tempted to rash thoughts, rash words, or rash behavior. This rash approach to other people isolates us from them and makes us see them as a danger to ourselves rather than as a sister or brother in Christ, and ultimately saddens us. Let us choose forbearance as our lifestyle through God's grace so that the joy of the Lord is always our strength.

Thank you for reading this. God bless you and yours as we prepare for Christmas. Please pray for me as well. Praised be Jesus Christ!