Word to the Wise
Sunday, December 17, 2023 - 3rd Sunday of Advent - B
[Isa 61:1-2a, 10-11; 1 Thess 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28]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....[Isaiah] 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. [1 Thessalonians]
The third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called "Gaudete Sunday" (gaudete=rejoice, in Latin). The first two scriptures for this Sunday speak to rejoicing. The ostensible reason for rejoicing (in our time) is the coming celebration of the birth of Jesus. I liken it to the child who critically eyes the gifts under the tree to make sure one of them is big enough to contain what he or she is hoping for, and seeing one, rejoices!
Isaiah's words could speak to two different aspects of Advent. The first aspect is the real situation for many people at this time of the year. Those who have suffered losses seem to feel them more acutely. A loved one has recently died. A lay-off at work makes Christmas presents hard to buy. A broken relationship means the absence of a once-loved one (e.g. divorce, etc.). The Spirit of the Lord has anointed all of us at baptism. Can we help "heal the brokenhearted" and "bring glad tidings?"
Our ability to do this may depend on our own attitude at this time. Have we any reason to "rejoice?" Has Advent made any progress in our own faith, hope and love? This season can be a test of all three of those virtues, but especially in HOPE. People who have hope - a reason to live another day - can rejoice. The figurines in the manger scene remain just that if their meaning is not personified in those of us who look to that scene for hope! John the Baptist, the figure in today's gospel, did his part. It's our turn now. "Joy to the world" can be more than words in a carol if we make the effort. AMEN