Word to the Wise
Sunday, December 14, 2014 - 3rd Sunday of Advent - B
[Isa 61:1-2a, 10-11; 1 Thess 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28]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. [1 Thessalonians]
Tradition gives the title "Gaudete" to the third Sunday of Advent. It is the Latin command to "rejoice!" The quote from St. Paul sums it up. This is not simply something for this season, but should be a characteristic of a faithful Christian. As Pope Francis has pointed out that missionary disciples should not be "sourpusses." Perhaps our literary memories would be immediately stimulated to think of the character, Scrooge, in Charles Dicken's "A Christmas Tale." The kind of rejoicing that St. Paul urges is, however, is more than merriment. It is the recognition of a great hope that is a daily gift!
St. Paul's exhortation speaks to "prophetic utterances," which could include Isaiah's own words in today's first scripture: "I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul." The approaching celebration of the birth of the Savior is the reason for the messianic hope. This is not an abstraction or an event in a distant past. Our baptism identifies us with Christ and offers us daily the opportunity to live with him in the celebration of the liturgical year. Yes, we can join in the general secular "joy to the world," but our joy does not end on December 26th, the day after Christmas! Even if one does not feel like putting up a decorated tree, the manger scene should be set out as a reminder to rejoice daily in the gift of Christ. AMEN