THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
15 DECEMBER 2024
Today
is called “Gaudete Sunday,” because “Gaudete” (in English “rejoice”) is the
first word in the Latin text from the Letter of Saint Paul to the
Philippians. Saint Paul evidently has
much cause for rejoicing, because he tells them twice to rejoice. The Liturgy today reflects his call to
rejoice. We depart from the color purple
to wear rose vestments. And anticipation
is growing, especially for children. We
are over two thirds away from the wonderful Solemnity of Christmas. We have much cause for rejoicing.
However,
the situation of Saint Paul does not seem to support his enthusiasm for
rejoicing. He addresses a difficult
problem in the Philippian community, which he loves so dearly. He is aware that two women have been engaged
in some unknown quarrel or dispute. He
wants them to end this dispute, because it threatens the unity of that
community. In addition, he is writing to
his beloved community from prison, knowing that he will eventually lose his
life to the execution sword of the Roman authorities. Prisons in the ancient world were ghastly
places where “rejoicing” would be the farthest emotion from those suffering
their confinement.
And yet,
Saint Paul continues to rejoice, not because everything is going well in his
personal life or in the life of his favorite Christian community. He rejoices because the Lord is near. The prophet Zephaniah had shouted for joy
because of the Lord’s presence in midst of his people, even though they were
suffering in captivity in Babylon. Saint
Paul rejoices for the same reason. In
the midst of his imprisonment, when everything else had been taken away from
him, he has done what he recommends to his brothers and sisters in
Philippi. In the darkness of his prison
cell, he has prayed, trusting the Lord’s presence in his darkness. He has offers prayers of petition for those
communities which he has founded. He gives
thanks for his many blessings. He
promises the Philippians (and us who listen to this Word) that the peace of God
that surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ
Jesus.
If life is
going very well for you on this Gaudete Sunday, then be sure to give thanks to
God for all those blessings. If things
are not going well, then take the advice of Saint Paul. In prayer, be mindful of the Lord’s presence,
even if we do not feel that presence. At
the end of every funeral liturgy at the cemetery, the priest prays: “May the
peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in
the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.”
No matter
what is happening in our world and in our lives, we have a week and a half to
prepare to celebrate the Lord’s First Coming at Christmas. We can accept the instructions of Saint John
the Baptist to the crowds when he baptizes them in the River Jordan. He calls them and us to repentance. We can be more mindful of our need to share
our belongings and our food. We can
examine our consciences like the tax collectors to admit the ways we have not
been far or honest. We can be like the
soldiers and admit those times we have falsely accused someone or complained
about what we think we should be paid.
In other words, the best way to prepare to celebrate the Lord’s First
Coming is to take our sins to the Confessional and give them over to the Lamb
of God, who takes away our sins and grants us mercy and forgiveness.
John the
Baptist points us toward the Lord Jesus, who has come to demonstrate what the
Love of God looks like. Baptized into
the Lord’s dying, we willingly die to ourselves, trusting that the Lord will
share with us his rising. We open
ourselves to the fire of the Holy Spirit, given to us at Pentecost, that burns
away whatever separates us from love for God and for one another. We can rejoice, because the Lord is already
in our midst, no matter what else is happening.
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