Gaudete Sunday. 3rd Sunday of Advent [B]

December 13, 2020

John 1:6-8, 19-28

This Sunday is special. We are still in the season of Advent, and yet we see a different liturgical color. It is a rose color [not pink!]. This beautiful color symbolizes joy and hope, and it is in line with the spirit of the third Sunday of Advent, the Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is a Latin word meaning “Rejoice!” The name is rooted in the introit or the opening antiphon of the Mass, from Phil 4:4-5, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near” In the second reading, St Paul reiterates the motif, “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. [1 The 5:16].”

Yet, the real question is, “Is the Church too naïve in inviting us to rejoice in these difficult times?” This deadly and fast-spreading virus covid-19 has devastated practically the entire planet. While it does not physically destroy the earth like a nuclear bomb, it does kill countless people. It slows down the economy and forces many governments, even the strongest, to panic and struggle. The number of victims keeps increasing, and there is no sign of abating. Indeed, we are going to have a different experience of Christmas this year. Indeed, covid-19 is not the only thing that makes our day so bad. Personal issues, family problems, conflicts in the community, and many other things are still haunting our lives. How do you expect us to rejoice? If we examine the words of St. Paul in 1 Thes 5:16, we discover that to rejoice is not an option, but God’s will for us! It gives us more reason to ask how it is possible?

The key is to understand joy neither as a simple absence of pain nor bodily and emotional pleasure. The Greek word is “kaire” and Angel Gabriel uses the same word to address Mary [Luk 1:28]. If we look at the life of Mary, she does not have a fairy-tale-kind life. Her life will turn upside-down, a sword will pierce her soul, and she will see her son die on the cross. Nothing pleasurable and sensational about that! Yet, she says, “My spirit rejoices in God my savior [Luk 1:47]! Mary is able to discover something precious despite tons of ugly things in her life. She discovers Jesus.

In 1 The 5:16, rejoice cannot be separated from unceasing prayer and giving thanks in all circumstances. That is another key. Through prayer, we are connected to God, and in prayer, we learn to see God and His plan in our lives. Sometimes, we can only see good things in good time, but the Gospel has told us the opposite: there is God in the dirty manger, and even there is God on the horrible cross. When we see God in these broken pieces of lives, we cannot but give thanks. And, when we are always grateful, we are inspired to rejoice.  That is the spirit of Christmas, and we are trained in the school of Gaudete Sunday.

 

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP