SUNDAY DECEMBER 17, 2023
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT YR B
GAUDETE SUNDAY
Isaiah 61:1-2.10-11
1Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8.19-28
THE JOY OF CHRIST’S COMING
Gradually, we are approaching the Christmas season which celebrates the birthday of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. So this season of Advent will soon ursher in the joyful event of Christmas. The anticipation and expectation of this Christmas event wells up in our hearts gladness and rejoicing. Already, the whole atmosphere is saturated with the aura of gladness, newness, joy and peace. People even in this economic strangulation and recession are already making preparations and plans for the celebration of the great coming of Jesus into our world.
The Church reminds us of the joys that comes with our saviour’s advent into our world. For the gospel of today narrates the same joy and expectation as seen in the lives of the Jews who came to John the baptist asking about his status. The confusion was that John the baptist was seen baptising and supposing him to be the expected messiah, the Priests, the scribes and the leaders of the people sent people to inquire from John who he was. For them, that was not the kind of low level saviour expected. Their questioning John was to be sure if he was the expected messiah.
But John the baptist declared to them how little he was to be the messiah and how the messiah is far greater than him that he cannot even stoop low to untie his sandals. The testimony of John added great value, honour and insight into the greatness of the saviour expected.
From the testimony of John, who declared, “I baptise with water; but among you stands one whom you do not know, even he who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie, ” John exalted the person of Jesus Christ and put him in a much higher value and position contrary to what these religious leaders were thinking.
Looking very intently on the mission of our redeemer as prophesied by the prophet Isaiah in the first reading, we have every reason to be joyful and to rejoice. For Jesus is coming with the power of God to liberate his people, to restore their lost strength, to free the captives, to give salvation to us, to open the eyes of the blind, and to lead us to salvation. That the problems of man may be lifted out, dissolved and man may gain friendship with God again.
Isaiah then urges that we rejoice. “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”
The theme of rejoicing therefore is one that reminiscence the benefits and saving mysteries associated with Jesus coming. That is why this Sunday is described and known as gaudete Sunday, or Sunday for rejoicing.
But this rejoicing is not desired only because of the coming of Christ. It is even more because of the CHANGES in lifestyle it brings. The changes in lifestyle as seen in the baptism administered by John. The washing off of sins, the purification of souls and the taking away of guilt. For John’s baptism was that of water, merely to cleanse the heart of sins but that of Christ will give the Holy Spirit, that is, the power for good life, the power to overcome, the power to sustain holiness and life of righteousness.
This life as sustained by the coming of Christ will renew us in God. And Saint Paul urges us to give thanks in all circumstances, and never to quench the spirit in us, because our new life in Christ is a life that is pure, liberating and utterly controlled by the Spirit of Christ.
Father in heaven, grant that our celebration of the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ may restore peace and greatly sanctify us in spirit, soul and body and we will be kept sound and blameless at all times. Grant that we may experience greater clothing in the garment of salvation, and renewal in the grace of righteousness. And may we experience freedom and liberation from sin and gain protection from all adversities through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Fr Norbert Uchuno
