| Sun Dec 14 | am: 63, 98 pm: 103 | Is 35:1-10 | James 5:7-10 | Matthew 11:2-11 |
Third Sunday of Advent:
LITURGICAL THEME: Today is Gaudete Sunday, and the main message is given right in its Latin name: Rejoice! “Gaudete” is the very first word of the official prayer (called the Entrance Antiphon) for this day, and it simply means “Rejoice!” in Latin. It’s a call to cheer up because the long-awaited celebration of Christmas is almost here! To visually emphasize this shift in mood from serious waiting to eager anticipation, some churches will wear rose-colored vestments instead of the deep purple or blue usually worn during Advent. On the Advent wreath, the third candle lit is often rose (or pink) for the same reason—it stands for joy!
When the Bible—and the church—tells us to rejoice, it’s talking about a joy that runs much deeper than just being happy or excited about gifts and treats, even though those are fun parts of the holidays! The joy of Gaudete Sunday is not about a quick thrill; it is about a deep, lasting peace that comes from knowing and trusting in God. It is a security that can’t be bought, and it’s a feeling that stays with us even when things are difficult.
Think of the Psalmist who cried out, “Bless the Lord, O My Soul, All that is within me bless his holy name!” That shout is an expression of this profound, unshakable joy—a delight rooted in faith and purpose. As the Scriptures remind us today, the one who brings us hope is near. No matter the struggles you face right now, we are asked to move forward in faith, knowing that this arrival will ultimately make all things better, and so we shall rejoice!
BIBLICAL MEDITATION: The text from Isaiah 35:1-10 is a magnificent prophetic vision that acts as a glorious hinge point in the season of Advent. On Gaudete Sunday (The Third Sunday of Advent), the Church shifts its mood from somber preparation to eager anticipation, and this Scripture provides the profound theological basis for that command to “Rejoice!” While the world is called to rejoice, the people of God are given a vital task, one that aligns with the hope we feel on this Sunday: “Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God.‘ The “joy” of Gaudete is never meant to be selfish or isolating. If we truly grasp that God’s salvation is near, our immediate action must be to share that conviction with others who are struggling. Gaudete Sunday is our reminder that the joy we possess is a witness and a service. Our anticipation should motivate us to lift the spirits of those whose faith is faltering.
PRAYER: Lord, show us your ways and teach us your paths. Fill our hearts with true joy. Help us to live soberly, justly, and Godly in the world, so that your coming at Christmas, your coming on our deathbed, and your coming in majesty may redound to your glory and our perfect salvation. We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
Spiritual Discipline/Activity – Rose Sunday is the day that is customary in many places to begin decorating our homes for the holidays. One starts with the front door and concludes with the Christmas tree. Let the world know that they are welcome in your house and that the birth of Christ is being prepared to be celebrated there. To set the tone for such activity, listen to the Canon of Praise, which is Psalm 103. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCEuItWwnKo
ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE:“Joy is the serious business of heaven.” And, “The pursuit of joy must be indirect. The effort to know the experience of joy by looking at the experience of joy is self-defeating”—C.S. Lewis.
SONG OF THE HEART, SONG OF THE SEASON– Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers