Third Sunday of Advent
The third Sunday of Advent is always celebrated as “Gaudete Sunday!” Translated as “Rejoice Sunday,” the name comes directly from the scripture readings chosen for the day. “Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!” (Zep 3:14). In today’s second reading from Philippians, Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil 4:4). The joy that today’s reading is referring to is the joy of God’s presence – God’s healing, restoring, reconciling, comforting, redeeming presence!
In three points, let us try to understand the joy of Gaudete Sunday.
Joy is a Promise
As you have probably guessed, the exultant mood for Gaudate Sunday mood comes from today’s first and second readings. Zephaniah says, “Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem.” Again Paul in today’s second reading says, “Rejoice in the Lord always.I shall say it again: rejoice!” But why? What is the reason? Zephaniah provides the reason: “The Lord has removed the judgement against you; the Lord, your God is in your midst.” Zephaniah was writing at a low point in Judah’s history when infidelities and social injustices were rampant. The ‘joy’ that Zephaniah promised was an imminent promise. Joy was not there yet! If we read the entire book of Zephaniah (which is in fact only three chapters) we realize that the promise of joy is preceded by harsh judgement by God. In other words, joy is a promise but it would require conversion.
Conversion is Integral to Joy
Zephaniah’s proclamation that “The Lord has removed his judgement,” is not an undemanding proposition. Sometimes, people misunderstand God’s compassion and mercy. God does not simply remove our judgements from us to make us feel good. Religion is not like a massage therapy. Religion makes just and honest demands on us. Religion demands conversion. In today’s gospel reading, when John the Baptist announced the coming of Jesus, the people came to him asking, “What should we do?” John the baptist urged conversion : “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. Whoever has food should do likewise.” To the tax collectors he said, “Stop collecting more that what is prescribed.” To the soldiers he said, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone and be satisfied with your wages.” In other words, John was saying that joy can be their’s but it will require conversion. People cannot take Gods mercy for granted, make no changes and still expect to experience joy. Conversion is an integral part of joy.
On the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
This year, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe falls on Gaudete Sunday. The dynamic between conversion and the resultant joy is integral to the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When Mary announced to Juan Diego her desire that a shrine be built at the spot of her apparition, the result was not immediate joy. Rather, Juan Diego protested and expressed both his inability and insufficiency. Mary’s answer to him, like Zephaniah, like John the Baptist, was to accomplish God’s will - a call to conversion. She said, "Listen, least of my sons. You must try to understand that I have many messengers and servants whom I could charge with the delivery of my message and cause to do my will. But it is altogether necessary that you, yourself should undertake this entreaty and that through your own mediation and assistance, my purpose should be accomplished." Even the bishop-elect, Juan Zumárraga was skeptical. He dismissed Juan Diego in disbelief and asked that he provide proof of his story and proof of the Lady’s identity. Ultimately, we credit both Juan Diego and Bishop Zumárraga with letting their insufficiencies and doubts give way to compliance and obedience to God’s will. There was a change of heart – a conversion. There was joy!
Today, this joy is promised to us. However, the dynamic between conversion and joy must be played out in our own life this Advent. If there is conversion, there will be joy!
At every Eucharist, the Lord is in our midst. The joy of the presence of Jesus is God’s constant and enduring gift to us. Let us allow the joy promised by the presence of the Lord to reach the depths of our souls. Amen.
- Fr. Satish Joseph