The third Sunday of advent is ‘Gaudete Sunday’, and its liturgy gives an invitation to “Rejoice”. The third candle in the advent wreath – ‘Candle of Joy’ is lit today. Christmas is very near and so the Church invites us to have the joyful anticipation of Joy that the world experienced at the birth of Christ, that would culminate in the commemoration and celebration of Christ’s birth on Christmas Day. The liturgical colour for this Sunday is rose and thus priests and deacons often wear rose-coloured vestments as colour rose is a brightening of the ordinary violet which symbolizes joy.
The entrance antiphon for this Sunday is St. Paul’s reminder to rejoice “Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again, rejoice!” (Ph 4:4). The reasons for us to rejoice are three (1) forthcoming celebration of Christ’s birth, (2) Emmanuel experience (God with us) in daily lives, and (3) anticipation for Christ’s return in glory.
Scripture Readings:
I. OT Reading: [Zep 3:14-18a] Prophet Zephaniah encourages Jerusalem and Israel to shout out for the joy of their expected deliverance from Babylonian exile by the Lord by saying, “Shout for joy, O Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel.” Zephaniah made this prophetic proclamation at the height of the Jewish exile when things appeared hopeless and unbearable. His words, “The Lord has removed the judgment against you” (Zep 3:15) is an assurance that God has forgiven them and “the King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst” (Zep 3:17) is the assurance that God is with them. These are reasons for them to rejoice.
II. Epistle Reading: [Ph 4:4-7] “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again, rejoice.” Paul was imprisoned when he made this appeal for rejoicing! Christian joy does not come from the absence of sorrow, pain, or trouble, but from an awareness of the presence of Christ within our souls through it all.
III. Gospel Reading: [Lk 3:10-18] John the Baptist explains the secret of Christian joy as a wholehearted commitment to God’s Way lived out by doing His will. John’s call to repentance is a call to joy and their joyful expectation of the Messiah should motivate them to act with justice, charity, and honesty, letting their lives reflect their transformation. The experience of Joy could be ategorized into two in accordance with the way we choose to feel it. Two words namely ‘Enjoy’ and ‘Rejoice’.
Enjoyment as a state or process of taking pleasure in something is the joy of the body experienced in the senses. Whereas to rejoice as an incredible experience of happiness. It is the joy of the soul or spiritual joy. This is the kind of joy reflected in the Magnificat of Mary, “My Soul rejoices in the Lord, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant”. She experiences joy in her interior life from the realization that God’s hands are at work in her by bearing the Saviour in her womb.
The Church considers spiritual joy (rejoice) as the supreme criterion of holiness. The source of the spiritual or interior joy of saints is their communion with the Lord. It is a grace to be joyful in interior life even when external circumstances are turbulent. Gaudete Sunday is a gentle reminder to interiorize the mystery of incarnation through reflection, repentance and participation in Advent and Christmas liturgies. Enjoyment is a momentary experience whereas to rejoice is an abiding experience. Let us rejoice in the Lord, always. Amen.
Fr. Jerry Vallomkunnel MCBS