REJOICE IN THE LORD
Third Sunday of Advent
The third Sunday of Advent is traditionally known as Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete means Joy. The Mass for the Third Sunday begins with this Antiphon: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice! The Lord is near (Phil 4:4-5). Zephaniah (3:14-18) and Paul (Phil 4:4-7) repeat the same theme in the first and second readings respectively. For instance, Zephaniah says: “Shout for joy, O daughter of Jerusalem! Sing joyfully, O Israel. Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.” Isaiah also explains the reason for Joy. He says, “The Lord has removed the judgment against you.” In other words, God is willing to reconcile with us. God – man separation is the root cause for all troubles. Their coming together is the source of Joy.
Zephaniah’s prophesy became a reality with the Incarnation of Jesus. In Jesus God reconciled the world with himself. As John says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son…. God did not send His Son to the world to condemn it but to save it.” (John 4:16-17). Jesus became the meeting point of God and Human. As in Jesus God reconciled with the world so in Jesus we can be reconciled with God. God –Man coming together is the real source of Joy.
We all desire for happiness. The motivating forces behind all of our actions are our pursuits for joy. People were desperately looking for happiness during the time of John the Baptist. When he announced the coming of Jesus, (Lk 3:10-18) naturally, people got excited. They asked John: What must we do to welcome him? What must we do to experience Joy? John’s instant answer was: “Repent and produce the fruits of repentance.” Repentance is an active process. It is straightening our priorities, regretting the past wrong doings, repairing the damages done and starting a new behavior. The starting point is making our priorities right. It is rearranging life on the foundation of God. Any kind of arrangement and rearrangement of things without God as the center produces disorder and chaos. When God becomes the center, then other things follow. The story of Zacchaus is the best example of this truth. When Jesus entered his home, Zacchaus started thinking of his responsibilities to others. When Jesus came into his life he started listening to his conscience.
The three categories of people (the tax collectors, the soldiers and the regular folks) who approached John for a change in their lives brought out three major sins that people often do:- the sin of exploitation, the sin of revenge and the sin of hording. John the Baptist’s suggestions to them reflect the life of a person who lives in Jesus. They are in fact the qualities of Jesus.
1. Share
John said to the crowds, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none….” A person who is unwilling to share his belongings with the needy cannot welcome Jesus who shared everything with humanity. God is sharing. According to Mother Therese, whatever we possess more than what we need belong to the poor. As long as they remain with us we are disturbed. Remember the story of Zacchaus. He experienced peace and joy when he started sharing his wealth with the poor.
2. Care
He told the tax Collectors, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” Taking advantage of others is a mortal sin. Once, a waiter at a restaurant said: “Father they don’t give me a tip. I can’t complain because I have no proper documents. If I complain they will report my case to the police”. How do we treat others, especially those who come under our authority? Do we exploit others’ helplessness? Jesus was always there at the rescue of the less privileged and the outcast. Like the Good Samaritan how many times did you stop on the way to help a ‘Victim’?
3. Be Fair
He told the soldiers, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone.” Using one’s authority or position to destroy others or taking revenge on them is a grave sin. It is against Christianity. How do we use our authority to protect and promote innocent lives? They must not use their privileged position to take revenge. Jesus even went to the extend defending his adversaries saying,” God forgive them…They don’t know what they are doing!”
4. Be Aware
Finding one’s place in the order of things is important for joy. Everybody has a place in God’s order. John the Baptist was well aware of his place in the economy of salvation. Impressed by his life and preaching people came to anoint him as the Messiah. He could have easily stolen the lime light. He could have denounced Jesus. However John went to the background and said, “ I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming…” Problems begin when one oversteps his boundaries and desperately tries to capture the spotlight. For example, problems arise when a secretary begin to act like his/her boss. Problems begin when one begins to interfere with others business and intrudes into others lives. Whether it is in our family or work place or the monasteries we always see someone doing crazy things for attention and popularities. They not only destroy their happiness but ruin the peace of others also.
Joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. A person who lives in the Spirit is a happy person. Therefore, as we come closer to the celebration of Christmas, let us ask this question: What must I do to welcome Jesus in my life and find joy that lasts?
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Third Sunday of Advent
The third Sunday of Advent is traditionally known as Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete means Joy. The Mass for the Third Sunday begins with this Antiphon: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice! The Lord is near (Phil 4:4-5). Zephaniah (3:14-18) and Paul (Phil 4:4-7) repeat the same theme in the first and second readings respectively. For instance, Zephaniah says: “Shout for joy, O daughter of Jerusalem! Sing joyfully, O Israel. Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.” Isaiah also explains the reason for Joy. He says, “The Lord has removed the judgment against you.” In other words, God is willing to reconcile with us. God – man separation is the root cause for all troubles. Their coming together is the source of Joy.
Zephaniah’s prophesy became a reality with the Incarnation of Jesus. In Jesus God reconciled the world with himself. As John says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son…. God did not send His Son to the world to condemn it but to save it.” (John 4:16-17). Jesus became the meeting point of God and Human. As in Jesus God reconciled with the world so in Jesus we can be reconciled with God. God –Man coming together is the real source of Joy.
We all desire for happiness. The motivating forces behind all of our actions are our pursuits for joy. People were desperately looking for happiness during the time of John the Baptist. When he announced the coming of Jesus, (Lk 3:10-18) naturally, people got excited. They asked John: What must we do to welcome him? What must we do to experience Joy? John’s instant answer was: “Repent and produce the fruits of repentance.” Repentance is an active process. It is straightening our priorities, regretting the past wrong doings, repairing the damages done and starting a new behavior. The starting point is making our priorities right. It is rearranging life on the foundation of God. Any kind of arrangement and rearrangement of things without God as the center produces disorder and chaos. When God becomes the center, then other things follow. The story of Zacchaus is the best example of this truth. When Jesus entered his home, Zacchaus started thinking of his responsibilities to others. When Jesus came into his life he started listening to his conscience.
The three categories of people (the tax collectors, the soldiers and the regular folks) who approached John for a change in their lives brought out three major sins that people often do:- the sin of exploitation, the sin of revenge and the sin of hording. John the Baptist’s suggestions to them reflect the life of a person who lives in Jesus. They are in fact the qualities of Jesus.
1. Share
John said to the crowds, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none….” A person who is unwilling to share his belongings with the needy cannot welcome Jesus who shared everything with humanity. God is sharing. According to Mother Therese, whatever we possess more than what we need belong to the poor. As long as they remain with us we are disturbed. Remember the story of Zacchaus. He experienced peace and joy when he started sharing his wealth with the poor.
2. Care
He told the tax Collectors, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” Taking advantage of others is a mortal sin. Once, a waiter at a restaurant said: “Father they don’t give me a tip. I can’t complain because I have no proper documents. If I complain they will report my case to the police”. How do we treat others, especially those who come under our authority? Do we exploit others’ helplessness? Jesus was always there at the rescue of the less privileged and the outcast. Like the Good Samaritan how many times did you stop on the way to help a ‘Victim’?
3. Be Fair
He told the soldiers, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone.” Using one’s authority or position to destroy others or taking revenge on them is a grave sin. It is against Christianity. How do we use our authority to protect and promote innocent lives? They must not use their privileged position to take revenge. Jesus even went to the extend defending his adversaries saying,” God forgive them…They don’t know what they are doing!”
4. Be Aware
Finding one’s place in the order of things is important for joy. Everybody has a place in God’s order. John the Baptist was well aware of his place in the economy of salvation. Impressed by his life and preaching people came to anoint him as the Messiah. He could have easily stolen the lime light. He could have denounced Jesus. However John went to the background and said, “ I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming…” Problems begin when one oversteps his boundaries and desperately tries to capture the spotlight. For example, problems arise when a secretary begin to act like his/her boss. Problems begin when one begins to interfere with others business and intrudes into others lives. Whether it is in our family or work place or the monasteries we always see someone doing crazy things for attention and popularities. They not only destroy their happiness but ruin the peace of others also.
Joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. A person who lives in the Spirit is a happy person. Therefore, as we come closer to the celebration of Christmas, let us ask this question: What must I do to welcome Jesus in my life and find joy that lasts?
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