Today is Rose Sunday! The Rose of Winter is coming! This day is commonly known as Gaudete Sunday, which translates to Rejoice Sunday! We rejoice as we reach this halfway mark in Advent.

The idea of a rose blossoming amid winter comes from the prophet Isaiah. We hear how a bud shall sprout from the stump of Jesse. It is imagery that life will burst from a dead stump, the surprise of God will blossom.

This imagery is commonly portrayed in the German hymn “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”. Here’s a recording:

The impossible is breaking forth as God makes his way to his people. We must say with the psalmist: “Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.”

With the Rose of Winter, another image helpful at this midpoint of Advent is the rising star. The star begins its course to burn bright for in the days to come, the wise will follow it to worship the newborn King.

Today, do not lose hope. Jesus is on his way. He will bud from the Root of Jesse and come to us most unexpectedly. And in the darkest of nights in life, his star will burn bright for us to find him.

Many years ago, I heard Father Jerome Young, OSB, conclude his homily on Rose Sunday with this prayer. Let the words of this prayer inspire our hearts as we journey toward Christmas:

“In this Advent, Lord, draw us to yourself, the Love Who set the stars in the heavens in motion, and Who will shine with the splendor of truth and beauty, after the last star’s light has waned, blinked and then gone out.” ~ Fr. Jerome Young, OSB (+December 8, 2012)