It's time to start the music, its time to light the lights!

I recently watched the Muppets movie with great joy.  For the time I was in the theater watching this film, I felt like a kid again.  Watching Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzy and the gang brought back memories of watching the Muppet show on TGIFriday on ABC when I was growing up.  What was interesting for me, however, was the anticipation with which I greeted the movie.  Although I am not a BIG fan of the Muppets, something within me was sparked, and my excitement to see these lovable characters once again was a joyous and jovial!  I write about this because today we are preparing to celebrate the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday!  Its the first time of two during which the Church invites us to wear Rose, not pink!  Anyway, the reason the Muppets came to mind during my preparation was because just as I felt great joy at going to watch this movie, and these characters, the Church today invites us to live with great joy as we continue to prepare for the coming of the Light!  Today, we even wear a color that is not like any other, nor is it common.  Instead, we make today special as we become aware of the Light and we celebrate the feast of His Incarnation.  Today, in color and in reading, we are reminded that just as the morning sky gloriously announces the dawn in an amazing array of color, so too, we see and hear about the amazing Light that is coming ever nearer, and if we are attuned to this great event and this Great Person, we will find ourselves dancing with great anticipation, this time, not over a movie, but over Him who is our Light and our Salvation, Christ.  And so, as we continue our Advent journey, I recall the opening words of the Muppet Show theme song:  It's time to start the music, it's time to light the lights, it's time to get things started (in our hearts, here tonight) --that's my addition!  May God's blessings continue to fill you as the sun fills the morning sky, and may the joy and peace of our Lord Incarnate fill you now and always!  Love ya! Fr Rick.