The liturgical celebration of today emphasizes joy and anticipation as we prepare for the coming of Christ into our hearts anew at Christmas and finally at the end of time in his kingly glory. It is for this reason that this third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday, which means “Rejoice” in Latin.

-         This Sunday reminds us that even in our waiting, we can find joy in the hope of the Lord’s coming. For this reason, we are invited to rejoice always (cf. Entrance Antiphon).

 -         No matter the darkness that surrounds us resulting perhaps from our own sins and/or the sins of the society, we need to remain joyful and hopeful because God, in His Son Jesus, is always drawing close to help us.

 -         Joy is not dependent on our circumstances but on our relationship with God who is capable of transforming our loneliness, fruitlessness, our fatigue and hunger into an experience of bliss, justice and light (cf. 1^st Reading).

 -         Filled with joy at the thought that the Lord is near, we have to continue waiting in patience and trust (cf 2^ndReading).

 -         Like John the Baptist, we need to yearn for the Lord’s coming with joy and anticipation even in the midst of our chains.

 -         Jesus performs miracles and sends John’s messengers to report to John what they have seen (cf. Gospel Reading). This illustrates that even in doubt and pain, we can find reassurance in the signs of God’s presence around us. This evokes joy and patience.

 -         Let us take to heart this beautiful prayer, which will be said at all Masses today: “O God, who see how your people faithfully await the feast of the Lord’s Nativity, enable us, we pray, to attain the joys of so great a salvation and to celebrate them always with solemn worship and glad rejoicing (cf. Collect).

‍

If we would choose one word to characterize the Advent Season it might well be: Come! Advent breathes the desire for Christ's coming, whether this be the desire of the chosen people for the birth of the Messiah, or the desire of the Church for his appearing at the end of time.

On the human side this desire expresses a longing for a Saviour. On the divine side it reveals a plan formed ages ago, and put into effect, step by step, throughout the course of human history. For from the beginning, history unfolds in accord with God's saving will. Human sin cannot finally obstruct his purpose, and the Church has been given insight into the mystery.

In the beginning, when Adam fell, the Lord showed him mercy, clothing his nakedness, and promising a Saviour. When the human race was judged by the flood, the Lord chose Noah to be saved for a fresh start. And when mankind rebelled yet again, the Lord called Abraham and promised blessings for his progeny.

At Sinai he gave the Law to Moses and took a people for his own possession. And when Israel proved intractable he anointed David asking, a man after his own heart. And even after the most blatant betrayals of trust he sent prophets to instruct the people, before coming himself in the person of the world's Redeemer.

All through human history then, we can contemplate God wrestling with our race. And the Apocalypse recounts the struggles yet to come, right up to the end.

There is much we cannot know, about which it is foolish to speculate. But we do know that God's plan is the truth of history, and will be accomplished in God's good time and in God's good way. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

BIDDING PRAYERS

Let us pray for the Church that desires to see the face of Christ, that the eyes of the faithful may be opened to the divine light.

Let us pray for all who are fearful at what is coming on the world, that they may be strengthened by faith in the power of God, whose eternal plan of salvation is sure and certain.

Let us pray for the faithful departed that they may see the desire of all nations in his glory.

‍

Note: These hymns have been chosen from the Laudate Hymn book:

‍

983, Hills of the north, rejoice

100, Come, thou long-expected Jesus

88, Wait for the Lord

987, Mine eyes have seen the glory

883, Christ be our Light