THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR B

THE DIVINE WORD

BASED ON CATHOLIC LITURGICAL READINGS

THE SEASON OF ADVENT

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR B

THEME: “Gaudete in Domine Semper”

((Readings: Isa 61:1-2.10-11; Lk 1:46-50.53-54; 1Thess 5:16-24; Jn 1:6-8, 19-28))

The third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday/Rejoicing Sunday. Today our mother church invites us to “Gaudete in Domino Semper” (Rejoice in the Lord always, Phil 4, 4). Today we light the rose candle and the priest may wear rose vestments to express our joy in the coming of Jesus as our savior. Joy is an identity and a true mark to a Christian because we are called to live a life of Joy in the Lord. Why should I rejoice? This Sunday reminds us of the Joy that the world experienced at the birth of Jesus. We are rejoicing also because the time of waiting and waiting is coming to an end. Very soon it will be the Christmas season. The candle of Joy represents the Joy proclaimed by the Angels to the shepherds. (Lk2:7-15)

In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah exclaimed: “I am full of joy in the Lord, my God”. Paul in the second reading tells us: “Be happy at all times, and for all things give thanks to God, because this is what God expects you to do in Christ Jesus”. The Psalm is an account of Mary´s song of Gaudete called Magnificat after receiving good news in her life. “My soul magnifies the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” The Gospel readings also focus on the work of John the Baptist, who came to witness God´s light upon this earth. There is joy and fulfillment when people find and carry out their true mission in life. There is joy when we discover our true vocation here on earth. The church should be a place where everybody finds the fullness of Joy. Pope Francis in the Joy of the Gospel “Evangelii Gaudium” said, “The church must be a place where mercy is freely given, where everyone can feel welcomed, loved, forgiven, and encouraged to live the good life of the Gospel”.

How can we be joyful amidst corruption, injustice, the arrogance of the rich, poverty, diseases, accidents, floods, joblessness, brokenness, war, hatred, sin, drugs, and all our problems? When will God ever accomplish his promise of Liberty, Joy, and true happiness in our lives? Where can we find true Joy and Happiness? TRUE JOY is found in the following:

IT IS A GIFT FROM GOD. A Christian is a cheerful person. He is happy because Christ has shown him the meaning of life. Rich or poor, sick or healthy, a Christian is always happy. The first reading indicates that the achievement of happiness is a demanding task, but it is a gift that God will give to all. “The spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prisons to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord´s favor.” (Isa 61:1-2). St. Paul tells Thessalonians that they should rejoice always, and he insists that such is the will of God. God is the only source and reason for true happiness in our life. The Joy of the Lord is our strength (Neh 8:10). Filled with the spirit of God, our life should be full of Joy like Isaiah.

We are all made in God’s image and likeness, which makes us unique and special. If we are separated from our source, then we are incomplete restless, and unhappy. Therefore, to find fulfillment and Joy, we have to be connected to God through prayer and the Eucharist. Mary says my soul rejoice in the Lord. Isaiah says; I rejoice heartily in the Lord. Paul says Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

IT IS A REWARD WE GET BY MAKING OTHERS SMILE. Somebody once said “There is no joy that is equal to the Joy of serving others”. Serving others allows us to discover and develop our spiritual gifts and gives fulfillment that we have also contributed to the society. By serving others we are serving Jesus himself, and therefore we receive special favor from God. There is a special Blessing for those who devout their lives for the sake of others. We are called to witness Christ through selfless service. Happiness is a reward we receive for making others happy.

THE POWER OF GRATITUDE. Paul in the second reading says; “In all circumstances give thanks to God”. There is a song by Penrod called “Count Your Blessings”. If you feel ever burdened with a load of care, and your cross is too heavy to bear, count your blessings and name them one by one, and it will surprise you the great things the Lord has done to you. Mostly we lack joy not because we are poor, or have problems but because we fail to look at the great things the Lord has done in our life. As long as we remain ungrateful, we shall be unhappy forever. The Israelites kept blaming God forgetting the great things he had done in their life. What are your blessings? On Tuesday I will send you a story about “The Power of Gratitude”: Gratitude has the power to turn your sorrows into Joy.

In a nutshell, the external world will never give us true happiness. Many people try to find joy in Pleasure, alcohol, drugs, and so on. These will only give us happiness for a moment and our situation will become worse. The true Joy is from within the heart and it is a gift from God. As we hopefully wait for the messiah who out of love is coming to bring us Gaudete and Shalom, we need to recognize that he who is to come is already with us. Although many things may make us sad, we need to be Joyful at all times because we have hope in Christ.

The Lord you are waiting for is already before you to lead you, behind you to protect you, beside you to comfort you, above you to bless you, below you to support you and inside you to give you Gaudete, shalom, and strength in difficult moments. Therefore, our motto today is Gaudete in Domino Semper!

PRAYER: My soul glorifies the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. Amen

Fr. Antony Muchui, SVD

HAVE A JOYFUL WEEK!!

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“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the word and the spirit of Grace; and may the heart of Jesus live in the heart of all the people. Amen” SVD Prayer