3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR B

Isaiah 61:1-2.10-11

Luke 1:46-50.53-54

1Thessalonians 5:16-24

John 1:6-8.19-28

A REASON  TO BE JOYFUL 

The third Sunday of Advent is traditionally known as the “Gaudete Sunday” (Sunday of rejoicing). St Paul invites us to rejoice at all times, to pray without ceasing and give thank to God in every circumstance (1Thes. 5:16-24). But why should we rejoice when we are surrounded by thousands of problems and frustrations, when God seems silent when we call on him? Why should we rejoice when the COVID-19 pandemic will not allow us to celebrate Christmas as usual? In fact, life can give us thousands of reasons not to rejoice, but there is always a reason to be joyful. 

Back from the Babylonian exile, the people of Israel were disappointed because they did not find things easy as they had hoped according to the promises of God. They faced many challenges as they began to reconstruct the Temple and the city. It is in this context that we have to situate today’s first reading. The prophet speaks of the anointed one, sent by God to bring good news to the oppressed, inaugurate the era of grace, restoration and liberation. Thus, the people were to find a reason to rejoice because the Lord would clothe them with a robe of salvation (Is. 61:1-2.10-11). 

It is interesting that this prophecy about the Anointed one was adopted by Jesus to describe his own mission (cf. Luke 4). He was the long awaited Messiah, the one sent by God to save his people. That was why when the representatives of the Jewish leaders asked John the Baptist whether he was the Christ, or Elijah, or the Prophet, he responded in negative. He was only the one who came to witness to the Christ: “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me.” 

Often, our inability to recognize Jesus Christ is the source of our impatience, frustrations, worries, restlessness and unhappiness. If we believe that Jesus Christ is our Saviour and Redeemer, the Emmanuel, then we will always find a reason to rejoice no matter what situation we find ourselves in; for “the one who calls [us] is faithful, and he will do this,” says Saint Paul. May God help us to be aware that he is closer to us than we can think of and grant us the courage to always be joyful.

 Amen