Gaudete Sunday. 3rd Sunday of Advent [B]

December 17, 2023

John 1:6-8, 19-28

In this Gaudete Sunday, St Paul teaches, “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].” St. Paul gives us three fundamental characteristics of Christians: to rejoice always, pray ceaselessly, and give thanks in all things. St. Paul reminds us that these characters are not an option but God’s will for us. Yet, how can we be joyful amid suffering? How can we pray when we are occupied with our duties and work? How can we give thanks in times of trial?

The key is that we cannot rely on our power but on God’s grace that empowers us to do these three impossible tasks. Through God’s grace, we are empowered to rejoice always, even amid difficult times. Rejoice [Greek ‘χαίρω’ – chairo] is neither simply a fleeting emotion nor happiness that comes from externally induced substance. To rejoice is an action we choose to do. This action flows from the realization that God is in control of every event of our lives. Even in the most painful moments, God allows those to occur because He has a good purpose for us. Indeed, God does not tell us in advance His plans, making it complicated. Yet, the Holy Spirit comes and bestows us faith and hope in Him and His providence.

God’s grace also enables us to thank the Lord every moment. To be grateful and to rejoice are, in fact, closely connected, just like two sides of the same coin. We can give thanks in all circumstances because the Holy Spirit helps us to see that everything we do and experience has a purpose. And, when everything we do, we do for the love of God. This act became a blessing and a cause of joy. The word for give thanks in Greek is ‘εὐχαριστέω’ [eucharisteo], and it has the same root as the word Eucharist. Thus, every time we celebrate the Eucharist, we offer our sacrifice of Jesus Christ and our lives as thanksgiving to God.

Lastly, how do we pray without ceasing? To spend a little time for prayer every day is already difficult. Does it mean we have to resign from our jobs, abandon our responsibilities in the family, and enter seclusion to pray? Indeed, there are better things to do than this. To pray unceasingly can be done at least in two ways. Firstly, we pray as a community of believers, the Church, one body of Christ. Thus, when we cannot pray this time, other brothers and sisters in other places will pray for us and on our behalf. Since millions of Catholics pray worldwide, our prayers are unbroken and unstoppable.

Secondly, we rely on the Holy Spirit to pray for us. St. Paul himself told us, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words (Rom 8:26-27).” We ask the Holy Spirit to be present and sanctify every activity of our day, and before we rest, we offer our day to the Lord.

Rejoice always, pray ceaselessly, and give thanks in all things!

Rome

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP