3rd Sunday of Advent (B)

Is 61:1-2, 10-11; 1 Thes 5:16-24; Jn 1:6-8, 19-28

The Mass of the third Sunday of advent begins with this antiphon: Gaudete in Domine semper! (Rejoice in the Lord always!). Traditionally, we call this day “Gaudete Sunday” or “Sunday of Rejoicing” in order to encourage people to remain enthusiastic in waiting for the Lord’s coming.

During advent, the priest wears purple or violet vestments to signify that this is a time for repentance. Yet, during the third Sunday of advent, the priest uses “rose vestments” in order to show that in their sorrow and regret, penitents remain peaceful and hopeful because the time of salvation is very near. The first reading tells us that we are to rejoice because the Mesiah will come to set us free from all bondages, physical and spiritual.

The gospel presents to us John the Baptist who bears witness to Jesus, the light of the world. The coming of the Lord calls for joy because he will remove darkness from the world and will enlighten those who chose to follow Him.

As Christmas draws near, the Church calls us to become like John and to bear witness to Jesus, the light of the world. Let us reflect his light in our lives so that we may illuminate the lives of people around us. How are we going to do this? Saint Paul, in the second reading, has some proposals:

“Rejoice always.” We can attract people to Christ only if they see us happy. Our joy is a product of a peaceful heart, not of material possessions and worldly honors. Genuine Christians remain positive and hopeful even in the face of trials and difficulties because they are confident in God’s help and protection.

“Pray unceasingly and give thanks to God in every moment.” In praying regularly, we show people that without Christ we are good as nothing. All life and happiness come from God. We remain grateful because everything is grace, including our talents and abilities. Because all that we have are from God, we should not hesitate to share our gifts with those who have less in life. “We receive without cost, without cost we should give.”

“Choose and do what is good; avoid evil.” Saint Paul challenges us to live righteously in the family, in school, in work, in business, and even in recreation. Let us be fair and generous with others. Every time we do this, people would see Christ in us and we become credible witnesses of the gospel.

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta gave us this prayer:

Dear Jesus, help us to spread your fragrance everywhere we go. Flood our souls with your spirit and life. Penetrate and possess our whole being so utterly that our lives may only be a radiance of yours.

Shine through us and be so in us that every soul we come in contact with may feel your presence in our soul. Let them look and see no longer us but only Jesus.

Stay with us and then we shall begin to shine as you shine, to shine as to be light to others. The light, O Jesus, will be all from you. None of it will be ours. It will be you shining on others through us.

Let us thus praise you in the way you love best by shining on those around us.

Let us preach you without preaching, not by words, but by our example, by the catching force, the sympathetic influence of what we do, and the evident fullness of the love our hearts bear to you. Amen.