Today is the Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday and the focus of our liturgy is on rejoicing. During this time of quiet preparation, today's liturgy reminds us of the joy that accompanied the fulfillment of so many Old Testament prophecies at the birth of Jesus. We are joyful when we acknowledge that Jesus was born thousands of years ago, we rejoice that the Lord our God is working in our midst here, now. And we anticipate the joy that is to come when Jesus returns in glory.
So, where is the joy? Zephaniah, St John the Baptist and St. Paul easily could have asked the same question. When Zephaniah was called to be a prophet (640 - 609 B.C.), he found Jerusalem to be a "rebellious and polluted tyrannical city" (Zephaniah 3:1). St. John the Baptist had to contend with the corruption of Herod, imprisonment and, ultimately, execution while St. Paul wrote his beautiful epistle to the Philippians while in prison and in danger of death. The world in Biblical times was war torn, chaotic and dangerous. Yet these three brave spokespersons of God proclaimed a time of great joy and rejoicing.
Zephaniah, St. John the Baptist and St. Paul did not find joy in the world around them. They found joy in their faith in God and in their trust that God loved them. They did view their world through a God lens and they lived their lives in a state of continual Advent. What we hear in today’s readings are words of hope and encouragement. Zephaniah reminded the people of Jerusalem that “the King of Israel, [was] in their midst. He reminds us that the same is true today. The Lord is here in our midst now. “Shout for joy.” The Lord rejoices over us with gladness and renews us in his love. “Be glad and exult with all your heart.” In his Letter to the Philippians 4: 4-7, St Paul tells us that “the Lord is near.” And because the Lord is near, we should not be anxious but give thanks and pray making our needs known. Then “the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and minds.” And finally, John the Baptist gave the people of his time and gives us a message of hope. John and the people were “filled with expectation.” They were waiting for the Messiah. The Messiah was already there with them, but the people had not yet encountered him. John promised them someone much mightier than himself who would baptize with “the Holy Spirit and fire.” And this is good news.
God loves us, the people he created, so much he sent his son into to world to redeem us. His son loves us so much that he sacrificed his life for us. We are the beneficiaries of unconditional, overwhelming and all-consuming love. This alone should be enough to make us “shout for joy,” “sing joyfully,” “be glad, and exult with all [our] hearts” (Zephaniah 3:14). In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells us, “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete” (John 15:9-11).
On this Gaudete Sunday 2018, let us join with St. Paul and shout out “Rejoice in the Lord always rejoice!” Because the Lord is near. Emmanuel, God is with us!
God of everlasting love and glory,
from west and east you gather the humble,
leading them with joy
to the glorious light of your kingdom.
Let your joy be our joy,
your love be our love,
your acceptance of us be our welcome
to all our brothers and sisters.
With Jesus in our midst,
may our communities be happy
and be a foretaste, even in trials,
of the lasting joy you have prepared for us.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
from west and east you gather the humble,
leading them with joy
to the glorious light of your kingdom.
Let your joy be our joy,
your love be our love,
your acceptance of us be our welcome
to all our brothers and sisters.
With Jesus in our midst,
may our communities be happy
and be a foretaste, even in trials,
of the lasting joy you have prepared for us.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
Amen
