Advent, Week 3, Cycle A – Gaudete Sunday, Rejoice in the Lord

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed the Lord is near, Phil 4:4-5

This is today’s entrance antiphon for the third Sunday of Advent, which is Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete means rejoice in Latin.  The rose colors on the bows and candle of Advent wreath, and vestments that Fr. James and I are wearing are a sign for the rejoicing in the coming of our Lord Jesus. We’re rejoicing in the Lord’s second coming in Glory and also in his coming as a little baby in a few weeks. But, do we believe that the Lord is coming and are we rejoicing? What signs do we see and hear that tell of his coming?

We hear in today’s Gospel about John the Baptist who was in prison. He had been preaching in the desert a baptism of repentance and  that one mightier than him was coming.  Many people had come out to the desert follow him. But now John was in prison due to challenging Herod about an adulterous relationship. He was probably discouraged and had doubts of coming of the Messiah.  At that time in Judaism there were many ideas of who the Messiah would be. One of which was a Messiah as a powerful warrior who would overcome the unjust occupiers in Jerusalem. Jesus may not have met John’s expectations of the Messiah, so he sent his disciples to ask if Jesus was the “one who is to come”.  Jesus doesn’t give a simple answer, but instead gives an accounting of his works:

The blind regain their sight,

the lame walk,

the lepers are cleansed,

the deaf hear,

the dead are raised,

and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.

This echoes the reading the words of the Prophet Isaiah in the first reading. Isaiah prophesied of the restoration of a people who were in captivity and exile who would return rejoicing. “Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy;  they will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.” This was a sign of hope to John and his disciples that Jesus was the Messiah in fulfillment of the prophecy.

Jesus then speaks to the people about who John was: the messenger preparing the way of the Lord.   John is always there preparing the way of the Lord. He leaped in Elizabeth’s

womb when Mary announced to her cousin she was with child. He was at the Jordon baptizing when God announced this is my beloved Son and the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus. He was martyred at the hands of those who would put Jesus to death.  John prepares the way for the coming of the Lord Jesus.  He is a good model for us to follow in preparing others to encounter Jesus.   Each day in Liturgy of the Hours Morning Prayer the Canticle of Zechariah is recited recalling John’s role.

“And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins because of the tender mercy of our God.”

How can we be like John to prepare the way for Jesus to meet others in our lives?

Jesus pays a great compliment to John saying that, “among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist.” But he also announces something greater: “That the least in the Kingdom of Heaven, will be greater than John.” Through our faith in Lord’s resurrection we have hope of becoming members of the Kingdom of Heaven. The Kingdom of Heaven is something that we can surely rejoice in!

But before we rejoice, we need to ask: has the Kingdom of Heaven arrived?

Have the blind regained their sight?   For the single mom who only saw darkness in being pregnant and alone, but now sees the light of hope from the help of the Gabriel project, I think they have.

Have the dead been raised? For the person whose faith was brought to life through Christ Renews His Parish, I think they have.

Have the poor had the good news proclaimed? For the hundreds of people served food and prayed with at our Food pantry and Thanksgiving food distribution, I think it has.

Were there lepers who were cleansed? For the Syrian refuge family who was welcomed by Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement to resettle Indianapolis, I think they were.

The Kingdom of Heaven is made present by the loving action of the Christian community who have faith in Jesus and hope in his coming again in Glory.

While we see signs of the Kingdom of Heaven, we patiently wait for the Kingdom to fully arrive. St. James tells us,

“You too must be patient,  Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

The Lord has come and conquered death through his resurrection. He is present with us today in the Word, the Eucharist, and works of His people. We have much to rejoice in, especially for Jesus who is made present through the Eucharist, and gives us the strength to prepare for his coming. Let us rejoice in our hearts as we receive Jesus in the Eucharist and patiently wait for Jesus coming in Glory to fully usher in the Kingdom of Heaven.