+ On this Third Sunday of Advent we
reflect upon the reality of two “rejoicings” – as this is “Gaudete, Rejoice, Sunday”! The first rejoicing is that Advent is
more than half-way over now and we shift our focus from considering the second
coming of Christ, to that of his first coming, in Bethlehem, in Judea, so many
years ago.
What great love prompted God
the Father to send his Son; what great love prompted the Second Person of the
Trinity to condescend to become one of us to save us! What an amazing God we
have!
Rejoice!!
I say it again, rejoice!
And so, it is not out of
bounds for us to say that the second “rejoicing” has to do with God Himself:
who is very excited about coming into our world, a world that was very sad and
depraved back then, but in very many ways is even more sad and more depraved
right now, especially in our country with all of the violence that is taking
place in it – both from outside forces – but more sadly, from our own citizens,
and aspiring leaders. Yes, it is very sad indeed.
It is a good thing, that in a
sense, Jesus could not wait to get here
to begin the work of our salvation; he knew that he was born to die – the only
person with such a precise and predicted and prophesied destiny – and yet he
was enthusiastic about it, he rejoiced in it – because it meant that we would
be free, we would be able to be God’s children, we would be able to live in
heaven forever, whenever and however he calls us to be there with him!
In all of the sadness of our
world, and including our own country, we turn to God and plead his continued
love, mercy, consolation and forgiveness on us all: for we are all in need of
reconciliation, peace and love!
The
Spirit of the Lord has anointed all of us to bring glad tidings to the poor,
and sorrowing! Let us do our job and bring a sense of
“rejoicing” and happiness to as many as we can today!
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