Rejoice in the Lord, Always
The Third Sunday in Advent is celebrated as Gaudete Sunday by Catholics and many mainline churches. Gaudete means ‘to rejoice’. This name comes from the opening antiphon (introit) used in the liturgy – “Gaudete in Domino semper” (Rejoice in the Lord, always). The church is inviting all of its faithful to rejoice, for she sees her bride is coming to her. Her waiting is almost over and now is the time to rejoice because her ‘Lord is close at hand’.
In the early church, Advent was celebrated just like Lent with fasting and abstinence. In some traditions, Advent was celebrated for 40 days. During these practices, Gaudete Sunday was celebrated to take a breather from fasting. By the tenth century, a four-week Advent was formalized. Though, today, we retain the penitential outlook of Advent, the church does not encourage fasting as a part of preparation for Christmas. The coming of Christ to the world, bringing us our salvation is the source of our joy.
In the First Reading, the prophet Isaiah is proclaiming the total salvation of God’s people. He uses the language of the ‘Jubilee Year’ described by Moses (Lev. 25: 8-22). Here, instead of people keeping the ‘Jubilee Year’, God Himself is causing it through His promised Messiah. For Christians, every day is part of the ‘Jubilee Year’. In the Lukan Gospel, when Jesus went to the synagogue of Nazareth, he read the same scripture from Isaiah and made a profound statement saying; “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Lk 4:21)
In the Second Reading, Saint Paul, addresses the church in Thessalonica and especially the disgruntled members of the Church. He motivates them to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.” (1 Thess 5: 16) Many lost their patience in waiting for the second coming of Christ – they thought they would witness it in their lifetime. So, Paul asks these people to actively prepare for the coming of Christ by fully and actively participating in the life of the church.
Paul and our church are inviting us to become the dispensers of the ’Jubilee Year’ proclaimed first by Isaiah and then by Jesus. Today’s Scripture reading uses John the Baptist as an example of that joy in action. All four Gospels mention John as a precursor to Jesus, who has come to “prepare the way of the Lord”. Despite many challenges and persecutions, he joyfully proclaimed the coming of the Lord.
Pure joy is internal, and it comes from a deeper relationship with our God. Joy is an expression of God’s presence in us and a confidence of our salvation in Christ.
–Fr. Ranjan D’Sa OCD