III SUNDAY OF ADVENT
GAUDETE SUNDAY
By our Pastor, Fr. Carmelo Jiménez
The third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday which means that it is the Sunday of Joy. But not the fleeting joy of the things that give us joy today but then the joy fades away in a moment.
The prophet Isaiah affirms in the first reading: “I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul; for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation and wrapped me in a mantle of justice.” (Is. 61:10). Salvation is the goal of our faith, and so, if we find it in God this is the greatest joy we can find, not a fleeting joy but rather an eternal salvation.
The People of Israel had a jubilee year every 50 years which was announced by the anointed one which meant liberating things and people and returning what had been bought. Everything, absolutely everything, when it was being bought or sold, would be priced based on how many more years there were before the jubilee year. When the announcement would come from the Anointed one, everything would be returned or freed, even including the slaves. (Lev. 25:10-15) But now it is no longer the prophet or the anointed one but rather the Messiah who brings us the gospel, who actually is converted into the Gospel, or the Good News: “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord.” (Is. 61:1-2)
The Gospel text today is taken from the Gospel of Saint John (Jn. 1:6-8, 19-28) which is the parallel text from Saint Mark (Mk. 1:1-8) which we heard last Sunday. In both texts, John the Baptist points to the one who will become the Good News for all who believe in Him and who will fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah: “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” (Jn. 1:26-27) A while after the baptism of the Lord, John the Baptist would send two of his disciples to ask Jesus if he is the Messiah or if they will need to wait for another. As a response Jesus sends the message to John the Baptist: “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” (Lk. 7:22) In other words, the Messiah himself gives witness that these promises are being fulfilled in Him.
The Virgin Mary proclaims: “From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me.” (Lk. 1:48b-49) This saying of Mary is the proclamation of the mercies and the presence of the Savior in her life. It should be a blessing and peace for us, as it was for the Virgin Mary, because of his presence among us.
As we see manger scenes everywhere waiting for Christmas, waiting for the arrival of this beautiful boy who will bring salvation for each of us who receive him, not in the womb as Mary but in our hearts through: listening to the Word, the celebration of the Eucharist and the other Sacraments, reconciliation with ourselves, with our brothers and sisters and with God. To receive Jesus is to conform ourselves to Him in our way of thinking, feeling, seeing and doing. And through this receiving we are liberated, we are healed, and that is how he becomes our Savior.
May the joy that Christ brings us shine in our lives. May you, brothers and sisters, be filled with the hope of salvation and may God free you from every sin so you can receive Him who is infinite mercy. Rejoice, wait with love, for the one who is Eternal Love. May God help us to grow in joy and in love. Amen.