It Gets Better

Dec. 17: Third Sunday of Advent

It’s Gaudete Sunday, and you know what that means: light a pink candle!

Advent used to be as long as Lent, and it was felt that people needed a break from the long season of fasting. Later on, the season was shortened, but we kept the celebratory Sunday. Which is why today’s readings are all about rejoicing in God’s mercy. Yes, we should prepare for the coming of the Lord, but we don’t have to be somber about it.

Reading 1

Is 61:1-2A, 10-11

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the LORD and a day of vindication by our God.

I rejoice heartily in the LORD, in my God is the joy of my soul; for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels. As the earth brings forth its plants, and a garden makes its growth spring up, so will the Lord GOD make justice and praise spring up before all the nations.

This is being sung in the context of a Jubilee Year, when all debts are forgiven in Israel. Naturally, this is good news to anyone who owes money or is in some kind of indentured servitude. It’s a kind of blanket mercy that mirrors God’s own.

But Isaiah takes this peculiar custom further. God is going to bring joy to all the nations, not just Israel.

Responsorial Psalm

Lk 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54

R. (Is 61:10b) My soul rejoices in my God.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked upon his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
R. My soul rejoices in my God.
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
R. My soul rejoices in my God.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
R. My soul rejoices in my God.

Those who pray the Liturgy of the Hours will recognize this passage as a prayer called the Magnificat. It’s Mary’s response to Elizabeth’s greeting (from which we get the second stanza of the Hail Mary).

These are ancient prayers Christians have been recited since the beginning of the Church, in some cases daily. Which makes sense—everyone is devoted to their mother from birth, including the Church.

One way we continue that tradition is with the rosary. Have you prayed your rosary today?

Reading 2

1 Thes 5:16-24

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of evil.

May the God of peace make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it.

We often pray prayers of petition. It’s easy to forget prayers of thanksgiving. It’s worth remembering that Jesus has paid our debt, God Himself has forgiven all that we owe. That’s why we should rejoice always. No matter what else is going on, or what may happen in the future, we’re forgiven.

Alleluia

Is 61:1 (cited in Lk 4:18)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

This is a line from our first reading, but it’s also quoted by Jesus Himself in Luke’s Gospel. Jesus takes up the tradition of the prophets to make it clear that He is the one who was promised.

Gospel

Jn 1:6-8, 19-28

A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.

And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?”

He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.”

So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?”

And he said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?”

He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord,’” as Isaiah the prophet said.”

Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?”

John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”

This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Although yesterday Jesus told his disciples that John the Baptist was the Elijah, here we see John denying it. Why?

John holds the lamp by which we see Jesus as the light of the world. He doesn’t want the attention for himself. He doesn’t allow himself to cast any shadow on the Good News of the coming he proclaims: he stands out of the way and draws all the attention to the promised Christ. By John’s example, we learn that our joy lies in Christ, not in ourselves, for the Advent season!