Third Sunday of Advent
Perhaps because I left the US before Thanksgiving and returned at the peak of what the corporate America calls the “holiday season,” the contrast between Advent and pre-Christmas frenzy hit me harder this year. When I landed at the Dayton airport, the very first song I heard over the speakers was, “Fa la la…” There was a rebellion within. I wanted to scream that is not time to fa la la yet! The demands of Advent are serious. It demands examination of conscience, repentance and conversion. However, the mood outside the church does not help us pursue the demands of Advent. It is easy for us to skip the demands of Advent altogether.
Today is Gaudate Sunday or Rejoice Sunday! Every third Sunday of Advent, the church anticipates the joy of Christmas. Perhaps, we sell “joy” short. Joy is more than fa la la. How do we get from fa la la to joy? In my three points, I would like to reflect on the way to get from fa la al to joy.
1. Joy is.... To get to “Rejoice Sunday” on the third Sunday of Advent, we had to get past the second Sunday of Advent. Last Sunday, John the Baptist was not too kind in the gospel reading. In his typical no-nonsense style, he reminded us to “bear good fruit as evidence of your repentance.” “Even now,” he preached, “the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” This mood can be in stark contrast to all the tinsel and the colorful lights outside. There is nothing wrong with tinsel and lights. For us Christians, though, they are meant to express our inner joy. Joy is fruit of repentance. Joy is fruit of conversion. Joy comes from transformation. Joy comes from reconciliation with Christ. Joy comes from the comfort and consolation I get from realizing that my life in consistent with the gospel. Joy comes because I become deeply aware of God’s presence in the deepest part my being. I may be exaggerating… but the rest is fa la la.
2. Joy Comes from Allowing Christ to Save Us. Christmas is the feast of God coming to us. Today’s first reading expresses this very beautifully as Isaiah says, “Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you.” In today’s gospel reading, when John sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the messiah, Jesus merely replied, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” We are half way through Advent. We ask ourselves this simple question, “If Christ has come to save me, what have I done this Advent to allow Christ to save me?” “Am I closer to Christ now than ever before?” Or, “Am I hearing God speaking to me this Advent?” If God is calling me to repentance and transformation, am I responding?” Joy is the result of “being” unhindered in the presence of our Creator. Joy comes the ability to show our face to God. Joy comes from standing just as we are in God’s presence. Joy comes from the experience of salvation that Christ came to give us. Joy comes from entering into an intimacy with the God who saves. I may be exaggerating… but the rest is fa la la.
3. The Joy of Mary. On this the third Sunday of Advent, I cannot but reflect on Mary. She is the one who sang, “My soul rejoices in God my Savior.” She did not sing “My body rejoices,” or “My mind rejoices” or even “My heart rejoices.” She sang “My SOUL rejoices.” Somehow, this very young woman, whose mind should have burdened with the fact that she would have to explain an unexplainable pregnancy to her parents and her fiancé, is able to connect her soul with her Creator. Mary teaches us that the source of joy is the soul. Fa la la comes from outside. Joy comes from within. Joy comes when our soul finds itself in God’s being. As long as the two are in each other, no matter what happens in life, the joy never ceases. Joy is about the soul. I may be exaggerating… but the rest if fa la la.
The Eucharist is where our soul meets God in the deepest way. Let us prepare a highway for our God, so that when God comes to us at Christmas, we may ‘be’ joy!
Fr. Satish Joseph