There’s a moment in every long race when everything quietly changes.

You’re not finished yet. You’re still tired. Your legs still hurt. But you know something important. You’ve passed the halfway point.

In high school, I ran cross country. Most of our races were 5Ks, and every course had landmarks, trees, hills, and turns that helped you pace yourself. The midpoint was one of those silent checkpoints. You didn’t suddenly feel great. You weren’t magically faster. But hope crept in. You could see the finish line, not clearly and not fully, but you knew it was coming.

That’s Gaudete Sunday.

The penultimate Sunday of Advent is the turning point. The preparation is still needed and the waiting continues. But the Church, like a good coach, leans in and says: you’re past the halfway mark. Keep going. Rejoice.

Continue reading →