We Are Halfway There: Rejoice!

Ivonne Hernandez reminds us to hang on to hope amid the darkness. 

If we were traveling through a long tunnel, the halfway point would be the darkest. We can’t see where we came from, and we probably can’t see where we are heading. In the middle of that darkness, we might be tempted to go back to where we came from, to the old, the familiar, but then we spot it. A sign that says we’ve made it halfway! We’ve come this far, we just need a little encouragement to keep going. We pause, take a breath, and rejoice. We then take one more step in the right direction and we are now closer to the end than to the beginning. We can do this; no point going back now.  

Halfway there 

As I pause and think of the phrase, “We are halfway there,” a song from the 80s pops into my head: “Livin' on a Prayer”  by Bon Jovi. The lyrics speak about hope, about grabbing onto a helping hand. And just like that, a hit from the '80s opens my eyes to the universality of this experience.  

We all know what it feels like to be in a dark place without a sense of direction, sometimes wondering if we are going around in circles. Are we even getting anywhere? Is there even a point in continuing to try?  

When our sins, our faults, our failings mock us saying: “Well hello there, welcome back my friend, why don’t you just stay here in this familiar place, why continue to fight? Look, you are the same you were two weeks ago, two months ago, two years ago.” And we begin to listen to the lies, and we think that all our efforts have brought us nowhere.  

But then we go to Mass and hear… 

Be strong and do not fear. Behold, our God will come, and he will save us. (Communion Antiphon, Third Sunday of Advent)  

Indeed, He will come and save us. Every time we fall, every time we fail, every time we look away, He will extend His arm and invite us back to Him. If we stay close to the Sacraments, even in the dark halfway points of life, we will see the signs. We will be encouraged and strengthened. 

Living on a prayer  

At that time I will bring you home, and at that time I will gather you. (Zephaniah 3:20a)

The third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, is the midpoint of the penitential season of Advent. We have spent two weeks preparing for Christmas, and we have two more weeks left of waiting. And at this point, Mother Church invites us to pause, take a breath, and REJOICE!  

Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! (Philippians 4:4).  

See how far you’ve come with the Lord walking right beside you. See all the graces He has bestowed on you and be confident “that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). Rejoice, and then keep going, because the Light of the World is coming, indeed, “the Lord is near” (Philippians 4:5). 

Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.

Copyright 2024 Ivonne J. Hernandez
Images: Canva

This article appeared first on Elisheba House and is used here with permission.