Gaudete Sunday
Gaudete Sunday
The third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete Sunday. Today’s Mass begins with the opening antiphon: “Rejoice in the Lord always.” The theme for this weekend is joy and encouragement. We light the Rose Candle and rose vestment, a sign of joy.
In the first reading, Prophet Isaiah (35:1-6,10) encourages the exiled Jews in Babylon to believe that God will save them and transform their lives. The desert shall blossom; the blind, deaf, lame, and dumb will be healed; the ransomed of the Lord will return with singing to Zion. Isaiah promised them a new exodus and gave them hope. The assurance of this second exodus is chosen for Advent because both Exodus events foreshadow the coming of the Messiah.
In the Gospel of Matthew 11:2-11, when John heard in prison about the deeds of Christ, and he knew the messianic prophecies, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?” Jesus knew the prophecies and quoted from our first reading (Isaiah 35:4-6), telling John’s disciples that the prophecies are being fulfilled before their eyes, indicating that the kingdom of God has arrived. We see similar prophecies in Isaiah 26:19; 29:18; and 61:1-2. The people rejoiced because their lives were restored; they could see, hear, talk, and walk. They are physically, emotionally, and spiritually healed and restored. They are rejoicing.
When John’s disciples left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.” John the Baptist’s ministry recalls Malachi 3:1 “Now I am sending my messenger-he will prepare the way before me; and the lord whom you seek will come suddenly to his temple; the messenger of the covenant whom you desire-see, he is coming! says the LORD of hosts” As in Isaiah 40:3 (Matthew 3:3) the messenger is the Lord’s forerunner.
Malachi’s prophecy associates the Lord’s forerunner with Elijah, the great prophet of the Old Testament (Malachi 3:23). Jesus views John the Baptist, who preaches repentance in the spirit of Elijah (Luke 1:17). Jesus says John is the greatest prophet of the Old Testament, “yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." In the heavenly Jerusalem, they are greater than John, because they see God face to face.
In the second reading, James encourages the early Christians to be patient, “because the coming of the Lord is at hand.” He says, as an example of suffering and patience, brethren, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. (James 5:10).
Now, why are the prophets an example of patience? Two key reasons. First, most of them never saw their prophecies come to fulfillment. That’s the first thing. So, think about Isaiah, Ezekiel or Jeremiah’s prophecies of the coming Messiah. They all died before any of those things ever came to pass.
On this Sunday, God invites us to embrace the joy he shares with us. He is with us to heal, to liberate, to renew. In this Advent, let us approach him with an open heart and mind; he will bless us and send us out with a mission to bring the Good News to others.
As St. Teresa of Avila would say, “Christ has no body on earth now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion is to look out to the earth. Yours are the feet by which He is to go about doing good, and yours are the hands by which He is to bless us now.”