Third Sunday of Advent
Today is the third Sunday of Advent. It is also called Gaudete Sunday or Rejoice Sunday. In the ancient times, Advent was fourty days, just like Lent. So midway between these two holy seasons, the church paused to draw the people’s focus from the stringent penances to either the nativity or the resurrection of the Lord. Even when Advent time was made shorter, midway through Advent, the Church invites us to pause and take time to reflect on the reason for our Advent preparations – the coming of our Redeemer. Yes, Jesus is near! The Lord is close! Our redemption is at hand! He is the cause of our joy!
Today’s scripture readings carry joy-filled sentiments. Isaiah says, “I rejoice heartily in the LORD, in my God is the joy of my soul” (Is 61:10). St Paul says to the Thessalonians, “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thes 5:16). In the gospel reading, even though the theme of joy is not obvious, the hopeful expectation of the Messiah is proclaimed by John the Baptist. He does precisely what the Church wants us to do this 3rd Sunday of Advent – turn our gaze to the One who has come to save us.
As Paul suggests, is it possible to rejoice always? Is it practical? It is, if we understand joy correctly. Joy does not mean the absence of sadness or sorrow. Nor does it mean unending thrill. Rather, Joy is a deep awareness of the presence of God in all circumstances. That is the meaning of, “Rejoice always. In all circumstances give thanks.” Joy comes from knowing that we are never alone or abandoned. Joy is the awareness in the deepest part of our soul that God is with us. Joy is more powerful that sorrow and more enduring that momentary happiness. Joy is another name for God. If we have God as an unalienable part of our lives and in the deepest part of our being – then in any and all circumstances joy will never evade us.
We are in Advent. We wait with hope-filled expectation for the coming of Jesus. But as Catholics, we have the opportunity to receive Jesus into our lives in an inalienable way into the deepest part of our being in this Eucharist. The God on this altar is the same God through and for whom all things were created. The God on this altar is the same God who was born at Christmas. The God on this altar is the same God crucified on the cross. The God on this altar is the same God who was resurrected from the tomb. He is cause of our joy.
Come, let us receive him and find our joy! Amen.
- Fr. Satish Joseph