Third Week of Advent: Joy
Light the Advent Candle of Joy
The third candle is pink and symbolizes joy. It is called the “Shepard’s Candle,” and is pink because rose is a liturgical color for joy. The third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete Sunday and is meant to remind us of the joy that the world experienced at the birth of Jesus, as well as the joy that the faithful have reached the midpoint of Advent.
First Movement
Light the Advent candle, pause and quiet yourself to remember that God is, even in this very moment, present to you.
Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God
Optional Centering Song
Play it for the amount of time that you determine for your personal prayer experience.
Second Movement
Contemplate the Mystery of God’s love at work in the world.
Read Sunday’s Gospel a few times slowly, then consider one or more of the reflective questions that follow.
A Reading from Mt 11:2-11
When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ,
he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question,
“Are you the one who is to come,
or should we look for another?”
Jesus said to them in reply,
“Go and tell John what you hear and see:
the blind regain their sight,
the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear,
the dead are raised,
and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”
As they were going off,
Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John,
“What did you go out to the desert to see?
A reed swayed by the wind?
Then what did you go out to see?
Someone dressed in fine clothing?
Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces.
Then why did you go out? To see a prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
This is the one about whom it is written:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way before you.
Amen, I say to you,
among those born of women
there has been none greater than John the Baptist;
yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
Founder’s Voice
“The miracles of God’s Providence take place every day.”
(Part of the Founder’s address to the first teachers about Providence)
Third Movement
What “signs and wonders” of God do you experience?
Closing Prayer
God of Joy, open my eyes! God of joy, open my ears! God of joy, open my heart that I may see the daily miracles of your presence every day! Amen!
Reflection for Week Three
Mr. Justin Martineau, District of Eastern North America, Eatontown, NJ
As the days continue to get shorter and personal energy seems to wane the deeper we enter into December, the bright, rose-colored vestments worn on Gaudete Sunday signal that Advent is quickly drawing to a close, our hopes for Christ’s incarnation and birth will soon be realized. The light of the world will soon be with us. But we are not there yet. The vigilance we keep for December 25 needs to extend well beyond advent and Christmas. We must avoid complacency, lethargy, and darkness within our faith lives. Much of the season of Advent challenges us, the faithful, to prepare for the second coming of Christ, the parousia not just the nativity.
So far this Advent we have heard references to Isaiah and the hope his prophecies offer. Yet that hope can be hard to find in this third Sunday of Advent’s gospel reading. We hear a story not of The Annunciation or of Elizabeth’s reaction—“blessed is the fruit of thy womb”—but more than three decades later, well into Jesus’ active missionary work.
We find John the Baptist, whom we know for baptizing Jesus and the start of Jesus’ public ministry, imprisoned (a fate he will escape only in death). John has received word of the miraculous healings Jesus has done and sends his own followers to verify whether or not Jesus is the messiah that he thought Jesus would be or if there is another to come. Like John’s question, our Advent preparations help us confirm that Jesus is our hope. We do not ask because we doubt, but rather because we believe and want to strengthen our faith.
In response, Jesus lists the deeds he has done in light of the the prophet Isaiah. Notice he does not explicitly answer their question. Their challenge is the same as ours: to see the unexpected joy of God already surrounding them, an important reminder that just because revelation does not always match our (imperfect) expectations, that does not mean it is not fulfilled.
Jesus chides John, but also stresses his importance in revealing Jesus’ true identity as Christ. Only through God and God’s unexpected goodness and grace is John allowed to announce Jesus as messiah. Through John the Baptist, Jesus reveals who God truly wants to be close to. He says: “‘But the one of least significance in the Kingdom of the Heavens is more important than him.” Could this “one of least significance” be us?
If so, this is totally unexpected and truly surprising. This is indeed remarkably good news. We are the ones the Lord wants? Are you surprised? God’s unexpected goodness is that he has come to us, and his only desire is to always be very close to us. We are the ones the Lord wants!
We must keep our eyes out for God. He comes always in many simple, ordinary ways. We meet God when we open our eyes in joy. God is near because we are very dear to him. God is already here with us, and he will never stop coming into our lives to save us.
This is why there is only one answer to John’s question: “But really, are you the one?” Knowing the truth, our joyful answer can only be, “Yes, really!”
Optional Contemporary Reflections
JOY
Let’s explore the unique type of joy to which God’s people are called. It’s more than a happy mood, but rather a choice to trust that God will fulfill his promises.