THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
‘Rejoice, the Lord is near’
This is ‘Gaudete’ Sunday. The Latin word
means ‘rejoice’. We light the pink candle on
the advent wreath today to remind us that,
while this is a season of quiet reflection it is
also a time to be joyful. There is good news
in the air. The Lord is near. Joy is something
deep and lasting. It is totally different from
pleasure. It can co-exist with suffering and
struggle. We have only to consider the scene
in Bethlehem to grasp the truth of this
statement. Despite the dire surroundings,
real joy filled the lowly stable. Joy is the most
certain sign of the presence of God within
us. John the Baptist tells us today that this
joy is nourished most powerfully, when we
reach out generously in the service of others:
‘If anyone has two tunics he must share
with the man who has none’. The key to joy
then, is service. ‘The secret of joy is living to
serve’ (Pope Francis). We experience this joy
fleetingly during the Advent and Christmas
season when believing, noticing and giving
become part of the air we breathe. Those
who are happiest are those who do most for
their brothers and sisters. Try to be a rainbow
in someone’s cloud this Christmas and
experience true joy!
The truest, purest joy flows from a discovery of
Jesus Christ. If you carry joy in your heart you
can heal any moment…