My dear friends,
Praise be Jesus Christ now and forever!
This weekend we celebrate the third Sunday of Advent which is traditionally called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete from the Latin word means, “Rejoice.” “Rejoice” is the first word in the entrance antiphon for today’s Eucharist from St. Paul to Philippians 4:4,5: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice!
The Eucharist invites us to “Rejoice” although we have many reasons to be sad because of the loss of loved ones, experiences of suffering, violence because of war, and hatred caused by misunderstandings. In both our readings; from the prophet Zephaniah and St. Paul, they tell us that the reasons to rejoice are even greater in all these trials and that we are not alone: JESUS OUR LORD IS NEAR! Jesus, the anointed one, the Good Shepherd, the Light of the World, the compassionate Healer, the Prince of Peace is near and our Savior, He comes to share our burden of sorrow in order to make us share in His inheritance of eternal joy.
In our Gospel (Luke 3: 10-18), John the Baptist was asked; “What should we do?” John replied, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has one; and whoever has food must do likewise.” The message is clear, that we have to be instruments of God’s love and care for all. Mother Teresa once said, “Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.” Thus, we rejoice this weekend, we put joy, care and love to the world – wherever we are – being generous to our needy brothers and sisters. AMEN.
-Fr. NEIL