Isaiah 61:1-2a.10-11,
PSALM Luke 1:46-48.49-50.53-54,
1Thessalonians 5:16-24,
John 1:6-8.19-28 Full Readings
Saint LucyRejoice, The Messiah is Coming
Brethren, today we celebrate Gaudete Sunday, which is every third Sunday of Advent. The Gaudete is a Latin word which denotes Joy. Therefore today is a Sunday of Joy, a Sunday of rejoicing, an anticipation of the joy we shall have by the birth of Jesus on Christmas day. We put on rose or Violet vestments and light the third candle of the wreath which is rose or purple which means joy. This Sunday is parallel to the third Sunday of Lent which we call Laetare Sunday and denotes the rejoicing that comes with the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. Therefore, today we are invited to start putting ourselves in the mood of that joy which we are waiting for on Christmas day. This is only done by preparing our hearts to welcome that joy, the joy of the world.
The readings of today point to this joy, the joy we shall have on Christmas and also give us hope for it. In the first reading Isaiah says that he rejoices heartily in the Lord for he has clothed him with the robe of salvation and in a mantle of justice. This is also an invitation for us to rejoice in the Lord for he is sending his Son to us to bring us salvation and to rule everyone with justice. This is also seen in the song of Mary, the Magnificat, which is the psalm for today.
In the second reading, Paul tells us to rejoice always, to give thanks to God in any circumstances and to let the Spirit lead us. This rejoicing should lead us to holiness so that we may entirely prepare ourselves in spirit, body and mind for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. This means that rejoicing in the Lord requires us to tune and purify ourselves for him to dwell in us. This is a call for Advent and a call that John the Baptist calls us to in the Gospel.
St. John the Baptist was sent to prepare the hearts of the people for Christ, to “make straight the way of the Lord” (John 1:23). He is the embodiment of Advent. He came in righteousness (Matthew 21:32) to help the people prepare for the joy that they would receive when the Messiah arrived. We can truly experience the joy of Christmas when we have become righteous by conforming ourselves to God’s will. This is the reason for the penitential cleansing of this season: We shed all of the sinful clutter in our hearts to make a straight path for Christ to come and reign in us.
Many did not heed to his call but started asking him questions concerning who he was. John clearly states that he is not the Messiah nor Elijah and that the Messiah is among them though they don't recognise him, he is more powerful than John and John is unworthy to untie his shoe. Here we see great humility in John. Brethren humility is the virtue of virtues. Greatness does not depend on self elevation but in doing the will of God with humility. It is the opposite of pride. Those who don't recognize the one who is coming are those who are filled with pride and self righteousness, they are blind to the truth. Is humility your virtue?
Advent is the time to remove pride from ourselves, to heed to the voice that calls us to prepare for the coming of the Lord and to rejoice in him eternally. Reflect on this Gaudete Sunday on the joy that fills you when you are aware that Jesus is coming soon. May this joy lead you to extraordinary preparations of your heart and whole self for the coming Christians.
Let us Pray.
O God, who see how your people faithfully await the feast of the Lord’s Nativity, enable us, we pray, to attain the joys of so great a salvation and to celebrate them always with solemn worship and glad rejoicing. Amen.
Blessed Gaudete Sunday
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