"Rejoice!" (And that's an order.)

Guadete Sunday. It's not all about getting all giddy about the holidays. In the readings, we're told — and quite sternly — to, bleep it, REJOICE!

This is not a suggestion, like, you know, "hey, cheer up" is a suggestion.

It's an order.

As Father Greg Staab, OMV, said in his homily today:

"Rejoice. It's a commandment!"

Now our good friend Zephaniah isn't one of your more "merry" prophets. In the same chapter today's reading comes from? He calls Jerusalem "rebellious and polluted" and isn't exactly spreading holiday cheer all over the place.

Yet he, through the Holy Spirit, commands us to "rejoice!" To "shout for joy!" Hey, they're not my exclamation points...they're the Lord's!

And Isaiah — while a terrific guy, I'm sure — wasn't exactly Good-Time-Charlie. Yet, in today's Response we, through God, hear him exhort us to "cry out with joy and gladness!"

Why?

"For among us is the great and Holy One of Israel."

Paul — a Pharisee who, at best, manages to keep his moanings and complaints within reason — tells us today (not once, but twice...he felt, through God, the need to repeat this):

"Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again: rejoice!"

These guys Are Not. Kidding.

Neither is God.

"But, gee, Kelly! We've got troubles galore!"

Yep, I know. Right here in River City and throughout the world.

But we've been given a command. To rejoice. And whether we're Jews or  Christians, we've been given our orders.

So do it! Rejoice! Even if you don't feel like it? You've got to. We, you and me, have been commanded to do so.

Hey, even if you're not in the mood? Maybe this will help.

May God continue to bless you!