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3rd Sunday of Advent - Cycle B

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The third Sunday of Advent marks the midpoint of the season – in Catholic terms this is like “hump day” for the Advent Season where we can happily see the end of our Advent journey in sight.  Referred to as Gaudete Sunday, it takes its name from the Latin word for rejoice.  We will hear this word several times throughout this Sunday's Mass in our prayers and our readings.  We light the rose-colored candle on our Advent wreaths, rose-colored decorations, and perhaps even the priest wearing rose-colored vestments.  The rose color is a mixture of the violet of Advent and the white of Christmas.  Not only is Christmas a joyous occasion to celebrate the birth of our Lord, but it reminds us that we are joyous (not fearful) of his eventual return.

The Word for the 3rd Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11
Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28

We open with a great announcement from Third Isaiah, that the anointed brings glad tidings to the poor.  If his words sound familiar, they should.  Not only are they reminiscent to the announcement made by the angels to the shepherd in the Nativity narratives but these are the same words Jesus reads in the synagogue in Nazareth after which he proclaims that this prophecy has been fulfilled.  Indeed, such news from God, in any age, is cause for great celebration.

Our responsorial Psalm mirrors this joy and praise to God but its source and its voice are not what you might expect.  This passage isn’t from the book of Psalms, it’s from the Gospel of Luke, and its voice isn’t from David or an anonymous psalmist, but from the Virgin Mary herself.  Taken from a passage referred to as the Canticle of Mary, this song of praise follows right after she and the pregnant Elizabeth greet each other.  Both the message and the messenger are fitting for this Gaudete Sunday.

Our second reading comes from the concluding verses of Paul’s 1st Letter to the Thessalonians.  His direction to “rejoice always” are words we ourselves would do well to follow.  But this isn’t a reckless kind of rejoicing, for in the same breath Paul reminds us that we must also pray and give thanks.  Our rejoicing comes from the gift of Spirit, given to us by Christ, so that we may find what is good in preparation for the coming of Christ.

This takes us to our Gospel, this week from John as he proclaims the coming of John the Baptist.  But wait a minute, weren’t we just introduced to John the Baptist during last week’s Gospel from Mark?  Why the repeat of this story?  While this week’s Gospel from John may share the same story, John always has more to tell.  What comes through this version of the story is John’s joy for the one who is to come.  Our messenger is almost giddy with anticipation for the coming of the Christ, a rejoicing that both supports our theme of rejoicing, and a reminder that we to should be joyous for the Lord’s coming.

Final Thoughts:
Although Advent is meant to be a contemplative season, much like Lent, it carries with it a joy and anticipation that is hard to contain, and Gaudete Sunday is meant to reflect those feelings.  As Catholics this Sunday affords us the opportunity to celebrate the coming of Christmas in a special way.  For me and my family, this is when we go out and get our Christmas tree.  Like incense in church, that fresh pine scent fills the house telling us that the Christmas season is almost upon us.  Some folks say, “what?  you’re only now getting your tree?”  Some years this can be difficult as many tree lots are already closed by this time, but we began this tradition in an effort keep from getting caught up in the commercialization of the holiday.  To keep ourselves more grounded in the traditions of Advent and remind ourselves that Christmas isn’t just a secular holiday, but a Catholic holiday with its own celebrations and traditions that go beyond all the secular traditions.

Advent is a reminder that we don’t need to rush into and out of the holiday so fast.  Gaudete Sunday reminds us that we are anxious and joyous, but that we still have time.  Our preparations continue, but the celebration will still come.  It doesn’t mean we have to put up all the decorations overnight.  It wasn’t all that long ago where Catholics wouldn’t put up a tree until Christmas Eve.  Nor do we need to get everything packed up right away on December 26th because we Catholics know that Christmas isn’t over – it’s just beginning!  Isn’t that something to be joyous about?  So join me as we embrace the spirit of Advent and take this time to prepare, both our home and our spirits for the Christmas season that is still to come.  Like Mary and Elizabeth, we take this time to rejoice, pray, and give thanks to our God for the gift of his son.

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