3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (YEAR B)— GAUDETE SUNDAY

1st Reading      61: 1-2a. 10-11

Psalm                 Lk. 1: 46-48. 49-50 (R. Is. 61: 10b)

2nd Reading   1 Thes. 5: 16-24

Gospel               Jn. 1: 6-8. 19-28

REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS

Dear friends, we have arrived at a very significant part of our journey through the season of Advent. Having journeyed more than half of the road in Advent, we come to the 3rd Sunday of Advent, otherwise called GAUDETE SUNDAY. Gaudete in Domino Semper (Rejoice in the Lord always); these are the beginning words of the entrance antiphon taken from Philippians 4:4-5. We are called to rejoice because Christmas is approaching; what we are preparing for and anticipating is near. The Rose colour for this Sunday communicates the joy that ought to be seen in us. Rose is no colour than violet (or purple) with a little addition of white. This white points to the fullness of the joy of Christmas. On Gaudete Sunday, we have a taste of this joy which we shall experience at Christmas. Without Gaudete Sunday, we live in a state of hopeless expectation. 

With the whole issue of rejoicing, the first reading from Isaiah 61 has a lot to say. The first reading has similarities with Luke 4: 16-19. Jesus refers to Isaiah 61: 1-2a in a Synagogue in Nazareth. Luke 4: 16-19 is called Jesus' Programmatic Discourse (or Mission Manifesto/Mission Plan). Let us focus on three important details from Isaiah 61, the first reading.

First, the author of this part of the book of Isaiah has his message directed to exiles in Babylon, especially Israelites in Babylon, although the first reading forms part of the third part of Isaiah speaking to Israelites after the exile. The author notes that "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord has ANOINTED me" (v. 1). Our first task is to identify who this anointed person is. The word ANOINT comes from the Hebrew MASHACH and it means "to smear with oil". It is the word from which we get MESSIAH (the anointed one). In the Bible, 3 categories of people are smeared with oil or are anointed for particular tasks and reasons. They are KINGS, PROPHETS, and PRIESTS. It is evident that one among these three groups will emerge as the one who says he has been anointed and who has the Spirit of the Lord upon (or on) him. In the Bible, Jesus has the three offices of PRIEST (Heb. 4: 4-16), PROPHET (Matt. 21: 11; Lk. 7: 16; Jn. 4: 19; Mk. 6:4; Heb. 1:1-2) and KING (Lk. 1: 32-33). On Gaudete Sunday, the person who has been sent to speak the message of Good News, news of a return to our original home and away from Exile, is nobody other than Jesus himself. This is God himself who comes to proclaim the Good News to us. This calls for rejoicing.

The second detail is that this Anointed One, whom Isaiah points to and whom we have identified as Jesus, is going to do 5 things. One among them is "to announce a YEAR OF FAVOUR FROM THE LORD" (v. 2). The YEAR OF FAVOUR is the same as THE YEAR OF THE GREAT JUBILEE talked about in Leviticus 25. The Year of the Great Jubilee is the 7th year. Israelites work for 6 years, and in the 7th year, the land is allowed to rest. It is also to be in praise of God and an imitation of the Sabbath. Particularly, in the year of Jubilee, all slaves are set free. In fact, when the slave is leaving, at least he or she is given something to send back home. Isaiah is writing to Israelites in Exile where they were slaves (not in their true home). He tells them that the Year of Favour is coming. This Year of Favour is coming from the one who has been anointed to bring good news. God will set them free. Under any weight that makes us slaves and exiles from our true home and from enjoying true freedom with God, the Year of Favour from the Lord himself is coming, and he will set us free. 

Finally, the first reading says, "The Lord has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of justice" (v. 10). One can be clothed on two conditions; either the individual is naked or what the individual is putting on does not fit him or her (or dirty or torn). Remember that in Genesis 3:  21, God makes garment of skin for Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves to cover their shame, nakedness, sin, and vulnerability. Leaves will wilt, and they will need to continue sewing. Their human effort is not lasting and durable. God gave them a garment of animal skin. This is permanent. This skin is obtained only when the animal is killed. This is salvation. Christ's salvation was obtained by his death. It is by it that God clothed us with a garment of Christ's blood. Our human efforts are temporary, and we cannot continue to rely on it.  God has a plan to grant us permanent and lasting freedom from sin and death, and this is why he will become flesh and dwell among us. 

This Gaudete Sunday calls us to Rejoice. We rejoice because God himself will announce the Good News, and he will clothe us with salvation by granting us lasting peace and joy. Be joyful and hopeful.

Pax et Bonum 🕊 🙏 ❤️