THE THIRD Sunday of Advent known as Gaudete Sunday which tells us to “Rejoice in the Lord always”, to “Smile”, and to be “Happy”. This is the message of the third Sunday of Advent: “Christmas is near, the Lord is near, let us rejoice.” Accompanied by the Virgin Mary on the journey towards Christmas, in these times that are difficult for many, let us make an effort to rediscover the great hope and joy brought to us by the coming of the Son of God into the world.
What should we do then? What is the liturgy telling us? First we encounter John the Baptist on the 3rd Sunday then we will encounter him again the following Sunday. If you imagine the setting of John The Baptist at the time people were waiting for the long promised Messiah, and when John The Baptist came he was so popular.
Many people listened to him, many people went to him, many people asked to be baptized by him. Many people thought he was the long awaited Messiah. And sometimes I would like to imagine maybe John The Baptist was tempted to say, “Ako na nga, yes I am the one you’ve been waiting for.” But John the Baptist knew himself, he knew his role in God’s plan. He knew that he was not the main actor. He is the primary witness to Jesus, the Messiah, the light and joy of the world. He was there to prepare to announce the coming of the Lord. John the Baptist lived and died based on what he has seen, heard, and experienced. His words echoed through the wilderness of the world and our lives.
And so he said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert to make straight the path of the Lord.”
The Third Sunday of Advent invites each one of us to imitate John the Baptist to know who we are, and to know what is our role in life. Not to pretend, but to admit who we are, not to pretend to be someone else, but to find value in our role in what God has called us to be and to do.
John The Baptist also invites us to convert, to change our lives, prepare our hearts as our way of preparing for the coming of the Lord, and focus on life’s many graces. It also asks us to rejoice, to live joyfully, and to live in peace. This is a trademark of Christians.
Yes life has been difficult because of the COVID19 pandemic, it has been difficult because many of us have lost our loved ones but in spite of all these we have one another, we have our faith, and we have Jesus as our companion in our life. We have the Holy Spirit to guide us, we have the Father in Heaven who cares for us, and so again we are told and we are commanded, “Rejoice! The Lord is near! Rejoice! The Lord is here! Rejoice! Because here with us is Jesus our Lord!”
We have celebrated last Sunday the mystery of the rising of Jesus Christ to new life. May we now rest in your peace, safe from all that could harm us and rise refreshed and joyful, to praise you throughout another day.