ILIZWI REFLECTIONS
Sunday, 17 December 2023 ***
3rd Sunday of Advent
Gaudete Sunday
Rose/Pink colour. Candle of hope
Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11
Luke 1:46-50, 53-54
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28
REJOICE – BE JOYFUL
“Rejoice always; pray constantly; and give thanks in all circumstances” – 1 Thess 5:16-18a
Today is Gaudete Sunday, which is Latin for “rejoice”. It’s a Sunday of joy. As we are commanded to love and forgive; today we are commanded to rejoice, to be joyful, to be happy.
Although we are still in Advent, it is not yet Christmas, today we celebrate the joy of Christmas. The deep meaning here is that we are certain of what we are preparing and waiting for. Christ will come, Christ will be born in our midst; and in fact, he has already come – “among you stands the one you do not know” (Jn 1:26).
Because of our different life conditions many of us have no reason to rejoice. Everything is upside down – health, relationships, family, finances, career, vocation. Others postpone joy and celebrations saying I will rejoice when get married, get a child, a job, or when I buy …. or complete this project.
The young Thessalonian Church was experiencing very difficult situations of persecution, rejection and harassment. Paul himself had to flee because of violent opposition. It is in this situation that Paul says, to the Thessalonian Church and to us today, “Rejoice always, give thanks in all situations” (1Thess 5:16,18). This is repeated in Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice”.
In whatever situation you are today, today is the day to rejoice. This command is an integral part of Christian living (Gal 5:22). Joy is the fruit of the Spirit.
To rejoice always is to see the hand of God in whatever situation one finds themselves. It is to remain certain that God directs the future, DIVINE PROVIDENCE. It is only possible for those willing to let go of all control and security and abandon themselves to God. It is only with such faith that one is able to rejoice even in the face of suffering, affliction, and death. It is an inner joy which cannot be given or taken by anyone.
My personal favourite quote is: “At the end, everything will be good if it is not yet good, it is not yet the end”. Rejoicing and giving thanks in all circumstances comes from faith that “at the end, God’s will prevail”. Evil cannot win.
Malala Yousafzai, a 15-year-old Pakistan girl who was shot by the Taliban in October 2012 for advocating for girl-child education, after her recovery said:
“they can kill my body but not my spirit”
There was a priest who was known in the village to possess a kilogram of gold. One day a stranger came to him and asked for the gold. The priest handed it to him. After a week, the stranger came back and handed back the gold to the priest and said:
“You may have your gold back, but may you give me THAT WHICH MADE YOU TO EASILY GIVE ME THE GOLD”.
Malala and the priest have something deep within them that no situation can change. It is my prayer that you find that something, you find that inner joy, that happiness, that peace in this third Sunday of Advent.
The key to this inner joy is “praying without ceasing and giving thanks in all situations”. Today instead of grumbling and cursing, thank God for your situation, no matter what it is, a troublesome child, difficult community member, jealous neighbour, or unpromising career.
The progressive lighting of candles shows the progressive preparedness to receive the Saviour. It means today we are 3 times more ready than the 1st Sunday. Have I lit even the first candle in my preparation for Christmas?
Today, on Gaudete Sunday Mass, God is offering you complete, true, and everlasting inner joy.
ILIZWI BIBLICAL CENTRE
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
PLUMTREE
Story
There is a story of a farmer who used an old horse to till his fields.
One day, the horse escaped into the hills. When the farmer’s neighbors sympathized with the old man over his bad luck, the farmer replied, “Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?”
A week later, the horse returned with a herd of horses from the hills. This time the neighbours congratulated the farmer on his good luck. His reply was “Good luck? Bad luck? Who knows?”
Then when the farmer’s son was attempting to tame one of the wild horses, he fell off its back and broke his leg. Everyone thought this was very bad luck. The farmer’s reaction: “Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?”
Some weeks later, the army marched into the village and conscripted every able-bodied youth they found there. When they saw the farmer’s son with his broken leg, they let him off.
Was that Good luck or Bad luck? Who knows!
Therefore, rejoice and give thanks at all times and in all situations.
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 