Third Sunday of Advent Reflection
A Reflection for Gaudete Sunday
By Amy Catherine Adams, Associate of Wisdom
We are waiting and watching from our windows and screens for the One who will come in and save our world. Not like a "cure" for disease, or even a vaccine to wipe it out.
It is the Third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday, from Latin, it means to rejoice. Our formed faith has nurtured us with the watchful waiting for salvation from Jesus' coming.
Now, as we light the third candle of our Advent wreath, it is pink, and it moves us through the Season, like a river. The pink light signals a shift in our worship. We are getting closer, and we grow light to find our way to the birth of Jesus.
On a good day, I meditate my way through Advent.
I pray the vespers, meditate the psalms, chant the O Antiphons, and sing the blessed Carols. I see the light in the once dark Chapel rap on my eyes to wake up and see!
But these aren't good days. They are fraught with despair, fear, and fatigue, suffering too many losses, loved ones grieving, their eyes sealed shut with tears.
The pink candle wants to interrupt us, to shake us to rejoice, for we are getting closer to the Nativity of our Lord.
Do we dare rejoice in hope at this time?
Yes, just like Mary did when she assented to God through Gabriel. Just like Isaiah did in his prophecy to seek the long-awaited Messiah in the dark landscape of Israel. Just like St. Paul did to his beloved brethren in Thessalonica, laying out a blueprint for living the Kingdom, even on earth. And, just like John the Baptist, interrogated by the elders of the temple, spoke his truth, offering witness to the One who would come after him.
The tragedies surrounding us are external forces marring our happiness and cannot be denied. But, do we have the strength to look within, holding on to God's Word in Scripture?
Can we say, "Yes!" to the true joy waking us up and intercepting our lives, generously given by God, our Father, through Jesus, our brother?
We are waiting for the joy that only Jesus can bring to our world.
Will you join me?