Florida Catholic | Sunday Word

Third Sunday of Advent – Gaudete Sunday

Rejoice in the greatest gift: God–made–flesh

December 14, 2008 :: Is 61:1–2a, 10–11; Lk 1:46–48, 49–50, 53–54; 1 Thes 5:16–24; and Jn 1:6–8, 19–28

MSGR. MICHAEL V. REED | SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA CATHOLIC

When was the last time that we really rejoiced? I mean really rejoiced? I think this is an essential question for all of us as we celebrate Gaudete Sunday this third weekend of Advent.

Now, I don’t want people to think that I am by nature dour or rarely moved, but I have to admit it’s been a few years since I really rejoiced. For me, it was participating in the blessing of a parishioner’s new Habitat for Humanity home following Hurricane Ivan. Honestly, it was unexpected, but an experience I will always remember.

True rejoicing is like that. It isn’t quickly forgotten or stored away. In fact, real rejoicing changes us and makes us more alive and human. In this case, the elderly woman whose home I was blessing was exuberant at all the attention. There wasn’t much furniture, some folding chairs and TV trays, but the rejoicing over every little gift opened, including crocheted pot holders, was as if this woman had won the lottery and the givers had given her priceless treasure. There was big–time, unabashed rejoicing going on, and I was part of it!

This is the experience found in our first reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah. It’s as if a representative of that well–known Publishers Clearing House is at the door with the gigantic check waiting to surprise us. Isaiah is excited and rejoicing because of the news he has to give. There are glad tidings for the poor, healing for the brokenhearted, liberty for captives, release for prisoners and vindication of past injustices. Isaiah rejoices because he has been given, instead of several dozen roses, a robe of salvation, a mantle of justice and a diadem of jewels. And, even more importantly, all the nations of the world are witnesses to God’s justice as it has never been seen before.

St. Paul encourages the Thessalonians to rejoice as he concludes his letter to them in our second reading. The Christian community of Thessalonica has had its problems, but their challenges and trials don’t blind them to all the good and wonderful gifts which God has given to them as his children. So, let us deal appropriately with our own difficulties while continuing to rejoice in the Lord of all hopefulness.

John’s Gospel gives us another compelling reason to rejoice. John the Baptist was baptizing in Bethany across the Jordan. Bethany in Hebrew means “house of grace” and grace is that gift, mercy, compassion, favorable response that is undeserved. It is the outcome that is so great that we could never have expected or imagined anything so wonderful. Yet, wonderful it is! It’s like the wonder we should have imagining that God took on flesh to live among us. Exactly! It is God taking on flesh that particularly moves us to awe, amazement and rejoicing during this Advent season.

Msgr. Reed is chancellor of the Pensacola-Tallahassee Diocese.

Return to Florida Catholic Online Edition Front Page