Reflection on Today's Readings, 3rd Sunday of Advent, Year C, December 12th, 2021
Texts: Zeph. 3:14-18a; Ps. Isaiah 12:2-6; Phil. 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18
Every third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is a latin word which means "rejoice". Hence, today's readings invite us to rejoice. The liturgy has a way of encouraging us; though our Saviour is not yet with us, we have reason to rejoice, for our Christian practice is bearing fruits here and now. The judgement against us is cancelled; our Saviour is with us in faith; He is with us in the Blessed Sacrament; we hear Him in the Scripture; in the sacraments, He visits us to cleanse our sins at baptism, forgives us our sins at confessional, to fill us with His spirit at confirmation, to nourish us with His body and blood, to give grace to bear the marital challenges, to strengthen us for journey into eternity.
Today's first reading invites us to rejoice. We are to rejoice not because of what we are expecting, but because of what we have received; God has cancelled the judgement against us. Those who are truly waiting for Christ in repentance have won God's favour and cancellation of their sins. Being humble and contrite of heart, their sins are wiped off. In the words of King David: "The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Ps. 51:17). We rejoice because our faith tells us that once we repent of our sins, the judgement against us will be cancelled.
The joy is not only on earth, it is also in heaven; for Jesus says, "just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance" (Luke 15:7). We have more reason to rejoice amidst all our troubles. Our joy should be that we are at peace with God; we have repented of our sins and heaven rejoices too. When we repent of our sins, our enemies are conquered. Hence, God adds, "he has cast out your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear evil no more." We are also reminded that He is in our midst; this gives us another reason to rejoice. We await His coming and yet He is is with us. This tells us that what we await is His physical presence among us; we want to behold Him with our physical eyes, not eye of faith. At present, He is in our midst in the spirit. In His minister He is in our midst; when we gather in His name, He is in our midst; in the Blessed Sacrament, He is in our midst; in the sacred species, He is in our midst; in His word, He is in our midst. Because He is in our midst, we have no reason to fear. Because He is in our midst, we should not grow weary but persevere to behold Him face to face when He comes.
Today's second reading also invites us to rejoice. St. Paul says, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand." Here, we are to rejoice in the Lord. We rejoice in the Lord when we acknowledge His deeds and rejoice over what He has done. St. Paul's call to rejoice includes standing firm in the Lord, for he adds, "Let all men know your forbearance." Whoever truly rejoice in the Lord, we stand firm in Him, no matter the challenge.
Today's gospel reading reminds us that to rejoice in the Lord, we are to share our gifts with one another, we are to do our work right by being honest and not cheat one another. From John the Baptist we learn to give honour to whom honour is due and not to arrogate to ourselves what does not belong to us. It takes humility to survive the temptation that John the Baptist faced in today's gospel reading. It is said in today's office of the reading thus: "If he had said, 'I am the Christ,' you can imagine how readily he would have been believed, since they believed he was the Christ even before he spoke. But he did not say it; he acknowledged what he was. He pointed out clearly who he was; he humbled himself." He had the opportunity to arrogate to himself the title of Christ, but he did not.
Lord our God, fill us with joy and peace; help us to always rejoice in You. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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