The Third Sunday of Advent 

Our week begins with “Gaudete Sunday.” Gaudete means “rejoice” in Latin. It comes from the first word of the Entrance antiphon on Sunday., “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near. “(Phil 4:4-5) As we light the third candle, we “break” through the darkness with more than half of the candles and we enter the second part of Advent. The readings today are filled with hope, joy, and the anticipation that something great is about to happen. The prophet Zephaniah proclaims to the people of Judah, that despite their many infidelities,” God will “renew you in his love.” In the Responsorial Psalm, Isaiah announces that with the greatness of God salvation is at hand. In the Second reading, St. Paul call the Philippian community to “Rejoice in the Lord” because the Good News of Salvation in Christ continues to spread. Though the reading from Luke brings a message of repentance, Repentance, as we mentioned last week, means to have a radical conversion in one’s life. It demands turning away from sin and all that leads to it, such as greed, pride, anger, sloth, gluttony, etc, while turning to God in heart and action. In this reading, John the Baptist calls tax collectors and soldiers to cease their common acts of dishonesty and oppression. Rejoicing in the salvation that has come already in Christ is praiseworthy… BUT….this calls for our response in daily life and actions. John the Baptist awakens our sense of social justice and our responsibility to care for and love one another. We are called to not only clothe the naked, but to clothe with love and protection to the vulnerable; to not only feed the hungry, but to nourish one another with compassionate concern.