Sunday Readings for Advent
“I am every day more convinced that happiness in Heaven is for th inose who know how to be happy on earth.” – Josemaria Escriva
Greetings in the Name of the Lord, my dearest children of God. I welcome you with joy into the House of the Lord on this 3rd Sunday of Advent. Our celebration today is dual. First, the Church invites us to rejoice for our Savior is already in our midst. Second, we rejoice as we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who has become a symbol of Mexican faith and identity through her apparition miracles to Juan Diego in 1531 in Mexico. Today is a great day of celebration for all Mexicans, Mexican Americans, Latinos, and the world at large. We pray for the intercession of Our Lady upon all her children.
The central theme of today’s readings is the exultation “Rejoice!” We are to do so mainly by realizing the Presence of Jesus in our midst and by receiving Him into our lives through repentance, renewal of life and doing God’s Will. Today is called “Gaudete” Sunday because today’s Mass begins with the opening antiphon, “Gaudete in Domino Semper” (Rejoice in the Lord always.) Today we light the rose candle of the Advent wreath, and the priest wears rose vestments to express our communal joy in the coming of Jesus as Our Savior. We rejoice because a) we are celebrating the day of Christ’s birth, b) we recognize His daily Presence in our midst and c) we wait for His return in Glory.
In this period of great expectation and preparation for the coming of Our Christ, we are already having a foretaste of that Joy His coming will bring. We are here today rejoicing for we can see signs of God’s Presence already around us. One such sign is the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego. This visit of Our Lady to Mexico has enkindled the faith of many and restored the faith of the weak. So, we are celebrating today the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe to remind ourselves that God’s Presence is not far from reach but always close to us through His Mother.
We rejoice because our hope in the coming of Christ is already assured and we shall never be disappointed. This Joy will never be complete if we don’t make the necessary preparations to welcome Him by a change of life. First, we should examine our relationships with others. We must mend ruptures and frictions, face family responsibilities, work honestly and treat employees justly. Our domestic and social lives must be put in order. We must abandon our selfish thirst for materialism and instead be filled with the expectation of Jesus’ coming.
We are gradually coming closer to Christmas. Have you reconciled with God and others, or are you still waiting to do so? Is there anything that will stand in your way to embracing this fullness of Joy that Christ brings? Examine yourself now.
In the Gospel today John the Baptist explains the secret of Christian Joy as our wholehearted commitment to God’s Way by the doing of His Will. John challenges people to generosity and a sense of fairness so that others may have reason to rejoice. Remember, in whatever situation you find yourself, there are those with whom you can share. Many families can hardly afford a piece of bread nor can they put a square meal on the table for their children. There are many in motherless/ less privileged homes with no one to buy Christmas gifts for them. They place their hope in you and I for those gifts. Remember many in the hospitals are not sure of being discharged this Christmas. They need our visits, love, and care. You are not too poor as to be unable to offer a widow’s mite or a generous visit. Do something, no matter how little, for someone who needs help this Christmas. Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise. Christmas is the time to spread joy and show love. Let the joy in you radiate to others. If you don’t have a reason to rejoice, give thanks to God you are alive. According to John, happiness comes from doing our duties faithfully, doing good for others, and sharing our blessings with others in need. John’s call to repentance is a call to Joy and restoration. Repentance means a change in the purpose and direction of our lives. John tells us to act with justice, charity, and honesty. Stop collecting more than what is needed. Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone. Be satisfied with your wages. I realize that those who are underpaid might react poorly to being satisfied with their wages. Whatever be the situation around you, dear Child of God, never allow that to deprive you of your Joy nor subject you to evil this Christmas. The good you desire shall surely come in due time. Let our lives reflect our transformation. This transformation occurs when Christ enters our lives and it is to be reflected in our living in the ways John suggests. In the coming of Jesus Christ we find the very source of Joy. Jesus is the source of Joy. When He comes into the life of a believer, he or she receives a Joy that can never be taken away.
We need to remember that we are like John the Baptist, Christ’s precursors. Parents, teachers, and public servants act as Christ’s precursors by repenting of their sins, reforming their lives, and bringing Christ into the lives of those entrusted to their care. Parents are expected to instill in their children a true Christian spirit and an appreciation for Christian values by their own lives and behavior. All public servants are to remember that they are God’s instruments and that they are to lead the people they serve to the Feet of Jesus, so that they, too, may know Him personally and accept Him as their Savior, Lord, and Brother.
The Prophet Zephaniah and St. Paul in today’s readings invite us to rejoice. Let us continue to rejoice, and to allow the Peace of God to reign in our hearts. Let these words of St. Paul be your consolation and inspiration. “Let your kindness be known to all. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving make your requests known to God.”
Keep smiling Child of God, let nothing steal your Joy.
I keep you and your family always in my prayers.©Clem C. Aladi
