Gaudete Sunday! 3rd Sunday of Advent, Year B

In our present season of Advent, we are called to reflect on our readiness for the Second Coming of Jesus. This means we need to make a thorough examination of conscience. The color violent is a color that symbolizes penance and sorrow for our sins. We need to recognize our sins and ask God to help us change or ways. Still, reflecting on our sins can be depressing.

This Sunday, we celebrate Gaudete Sunday. The color “rose” is a color of warmth and rejoicing. The name “Gaudete” comes from the first four lines of the second reading for today, “Rejoice always, Pray without ceasing, in all circumstances give thanks for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” We may be sinners but we can rejoice that God our Father sent Jesus to die for our sins on the Cross.

Yet the “always” part in “rejoice always” might confuse us. Likewise, “to give thanks” in all circumstances might sound like we should thank God for the bad things that go on. It doesn’t mean that. We can face suffering in our lives. In times of suffering, we rejoice because we have a God who, in Jesus, knows what it is like to suffer and never leaves us alone. God is always with us. For this we rejoice.

The reading does not say give thanks for all circumstances. It says “in all circumstances.” We give thanks even in the midst of our suffering because we know that God is with us.

Our first reading from Isaiah speaks of what God does that we can be thankful for. He has given us the Holy Spirit. He has anointed us. Every Catholic is anointed with the Holy Spirit at Baptism and sealed with the Holy Spirit at Confirmation. The Lord brings “glad tidings to the poor.” He heals the brokenhearted and proclaims “liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners.“

He is the joy of our souls and He clothes us “with a robe of salvation.” He brings justice to the world.

We have much to be thankful for.

Normally our responsorial psalm comes from the Book of Psalms. Today, it does not. It is from the Gospel of Luke. It is Mary’s words after she learns that she has been chosen to be the Mother of Jesus and has gone to visit her relative Elizabeth.

Mary’s words begin, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.” It may sound like Mary is boasting with pride. That is not her intent. She speaks these words to give praise to God. She knows that from that day forward she will be called “blessed.” Yet, she knows this is not because of her own merit. Let’s hear the words of the first stanza together, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoice in God my savior for he has looked upon his lowly servant.“ She acknowledges and accepts her status as “blessed” but she knows she is blessed not by her own merit but because the Almighty has done great things for her.

We can be thankful to God for what He has done for us through Mary.

As Mary’s words of praise continue, she reminds us what we can be thankful for. We can be thankful for the mercy He shows us when we follow his way. We can be thankful when He fills “the hungry with good things.” We can be thankful for when He comes to the help of his servants, meaning us, as He remembers his promise of mercy.

We can be thankful that He sent John the Baptist to “testify to the light” and to call us to “prepare the way of the Lord.” We give thanks to God for the grace He gives us to do this.

Let us never “quench the Spirit” or despise “prophetic utterances.” We must test what we hear today to make sure it is in accord with God’s Will. When it is, we can rejoice in all that God does for us.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff