Rejoice!

12-13-2020Weekly ReflectionFr. Arul Doss

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,

The Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday or Sunday of Joy. This day takes its common name from the Latin word Gaudete “Rejoice”, the first word of the introit of this day’s Mass: This may be translated as: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice.

The readings of today are all filled with Joy and Hope in the coming Lord. The prophet Isaiah declared that he will greatly rejoice in the Lord and his whole being shall exult in His God (61,10). This is because the Holy one of Israel, the Lord who comes has been anointed with the holy spirit to bring good news to all those who are oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor… and comfort to all who mourn (Isaiah 61:1-2).

To further emphasize this fact, St Paul urges us to: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, giving thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us” (2Thess 5:16-17). Today’s message which ushers us into the second part of Advent and calls us to prepare for Christmas, casts our minds back to the first Christmas when Christ’s coming was greeted with high expectations of a new horizon-shift in favor of the children of God.

Once again, today our gospel revolves around the prophecy of John the Baptist. The major difference between today’s gospel and that of last week rests simply on the fact that they are accounts from different writers Mark and John. The message remains functionally and ontologically the same. It is still from: “The voice that cries in the wilderness, make a straight way for the Lord.”

Why is this reading and call being repeated this joyful Sunday? It is for the purpose of emphasis. It is to remind us that, though we are given a little time to relax and rejoice today, that the clarion call is still there: “Make a straight way for the Lord.” In order words, our preparation continues. So, it is a way of keeping us alert so that we do not lose focus of where we are actually going to: “It is not Christmas yet!” The joy of this Sunday foreshadows the fullness of joy that Christmas brings.

Finally, as we rejoice today, let us say a loud amen to the prayer of Paul: “May the God of Peace make you perfect and holy, and may you all be kept safe and blameless…for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ…God has called you and he will not fail you.” Surely, He will not fail us until we have received Christ, the fullness of our joy and salvation. Surely, he will not fail us because: “All His promises are yes, and amen (2 Cor 1, 20).

Peace be with You all! Have a Happy Sunday!!