Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday

The tradition of the Church has a special name for the Third Sunday of Advent. She has named it Gaudete Sunday, which is translated as Rejoice. In previous times, when Advent was more a penitential season focused more on fasting and abstinence, the third week gave believers hope that the season was ending. The reception of Christ at Christmas was drawing near.

The first reading for this Sunday comes from Zephaniah, who instructs his people to rejoice and be glad. He tells them sometime in the future, God will remove his wrath, and the Lord God will be in their midst. Zephaniah exhorts his people not to be discouraged because God will rejoice with them and renew his love.

Without knowing about Jesus’ incarnation, the prophecy of Zephaniah describes the relationship between God and his people coming to its fullness in Jesus Christ. God’s love removes his wrath by sending his only begotten Son to humanity, and humanity rejoices with the Father at the once-broken bond renewed in Christ.    

Even St. Paul echoes this ancient prophecy by telling the Philippians to “Rejoice in the Lord always.
I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near.” The nearness of the Lord, the connection between the human and divine in Christ, is manifested by a disciple wanting to act in kindness towards his neighbors. The joy of knowing Christ is near substantially changes a response to another. No longer is it necessary to act out self-interest because the Cross of Christ has destroyed that type of selfishness. Being close to the Lord fulfills all our desires; nothing more is needed. “Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

In our two short reflections, Zephaniah predicts the coming of the Messiah, while St. Paul teaches his people how to live knowing Jesus has already come to earth. The third reading the Church offers is about St. John the Baptist proclaiming the imminent coming of the Savior and how the people of the time should prepare for the visit.  

Because of his preaching, the people had great expectations, thinking St. John was the Messiah who was to come. St. John the Baptist made it evident that although he was baptizing and preaching repentance, he was not the Messiah. By urging people to change their hearts, he baptized them with the symbolism of cleansing them through water. St. John’s baptism serves as the precursor to the baptism in Christ, far surpassing the old rite of cleansing.   

Like the prophets of old who told their people to have faith in the coming of the Messiah, the last prophet, St. John, directly pointed to the one who has come by diminishing himself, claiming, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.” He continues to assert he is not God by pointing to Christ, saying, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Only one who is God can baptize in the name of God through the Holy Spirit. That person is Christ. From the beginning of time when people needed a Savior until the present, the desire to be one with God has been achieved through baptism in the Holy Spirit. Through this great sacrament, the long-awaited Messiah has visited his people by uniting them and making them adopted sons and daughters.  

The Third Week of Advent reminds us to be joyful, specifically by reminding us that the Messiah came into our lives through baptism. It is also a time to prayerfully reflect when Jesus will come again in all his glory, judging the living and the dead.

The special season of Advent allows us, along with other members of the Church, to learn how we should best be prepared for the extraordinary graces afforded to us on Christmas and when our journey on earth has ended.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near.  

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