3rd Sunday of Advent: Rejoice in the Lord Always (Fr. Vinner)
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,
Today the liturgy of the word is inviting us to rejoice at the rebirth of Jesus in our lives as we are preparing for the Christmas celebration. Today is called Gaudete Sunday because today’s Mass begins with the opening antiphon: “Gaudete in Domino semper,” i.e., “Rejoice in the Lord always.” So, to express our joy in the coming of Jesus as our Savior into our hearts and lives, we light the rose candle in the Advent wreath.
The first reading, encourages the exiled Jews in Babylon to rejoice because their God is going to liberate them from slavery and lead them safely to their homeland. In the second reading, James the Apostle encourages the early Christians to rejoice and wait with patience for the imminent second coming of Jesus. Finally, in the first part of today’s Gospel reading, Jesus encourages John the Baptist in prison to rejoice by casting away his wrong expectations about the Messiah and simply accepting Jesus’ healing and preaching ministry as the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah. In the second part of today’s Gospel, Matthew presents Jesus, the true Messiah, paying the highest compliments to John the Baptist as his herald and the last of the prophets, and giving special credit to the courage of John’s prophetic convictions, asking his listeners to rejoice in the greatness of his herald.
In today’s Gospel, John sends word to Jesus from prison, asking if Jesus is the Messiah for whom he has been waiting. Jesus responds by pointing to the miracles that he has worked and invites John and the other hearers to make their own determination. In his next breath, however, Jesus praises John for his role in preparing the way for Jesus. Then Jesus says that all of those who work for the Kingdom of God will be as great as John and even greater.
Jesus answered the question put to Him by John’s disciples, saying: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. He also knew that this was good news, joyful news, for all who experienced oppression and suffering, both physically and spiritually.
Jesus’ message to John about the signs of the kingdom being performed recalls the salvation described by the prophet Isaiah. This passage is a reminder that the beginning of salvation is already mysteriously present to us, but also yet to be fulfilled. Salvation is already in our midst as manifest in the miraculous deeds of Jesus and in the Church. But salvation is also to be fulfilled in the coming reign of God.
In the second reading, St. James says in his letter that we have to wait patiently for the coming of the Lord as that of farmer waits for the fruit of the earth. He also instructs us that we should not complain to each other that we may not be judged. When our Lord comes and he will reward us according to our good deeds. Our heart should be pure in front Him and He is the one who gives us all kinds of spiritual blessing from the heavenly place. He will fill our heart with his blessings, joy and happiness.
- “Go and tell others what you hear and see.”We rejoice at the thought that Jesus is going to be reborn in our lives, deepening in us His gifts of love, mercy, forgiveness and the spirit of humble and sacrificial service during this Christmas season. Hence, let us joyfully share God’s bountiful grace, forgiveness, and mercy with others. What Jesus commanded John’s disciples, he commands us as well: Go and tell others what you hear and see.This means that we have to share with others our experience of the rebirth of Jesus within us.
- We need to open our hearts and let God transform our lives: We, too, should be encouraged by today’s readings. They remind us that our lives can also be transformed, if we are patient and place our trust in God. The message of Advent is that God is present among us, in our everyday lives. We must prepare our hearts to recognize and welcome Him. “If a man is the center of his [own] life, everyone around him becomes hell for him because everyone around him interferes with him and obstructs what he wants to do” (Jean Paul Sartre). Let us believe in our hearts the Gospel message about Jesus given by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Will we allow the Holy Spirit, through these Gospel reports, to create a metánoia (a change of thinking about God, ourselves, and the world) in us during Advent?
In this joyful celebration, let us ask His abundant grace so that we may fully prepare ourselves and be ever ready to meet the Lord with joyful heart. Lord Jesus, truly you are our Lord. Guide us in your paths so that we may recognize your presence which surrounds us now. Lead us in the path of life eternal and we may rejoice with you always. ….Amen.
God Bless us.
Fr. Vinner