THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT

Gaudete: Rejoice!

Did today’s presider wear rose-colored vestments? He did because today is the Sunday in Advent when we are called to REJOICE ... the Lord is coming! In wearing rose, the priest is bringing a little brightness into our Advent season.

This brightness recalls the coming of Jesus over 2,000 years ago and the eternal difference that made for all of humankind. We are joyfully anticipating the day when Christ will come in majesty at the end of the world, and all will be well. And, equally, that day when each one of us is called to be with Jesus in eternal life. We are also called to celebrate all the ways in which Jesus is with us each moment of each day right now; Jesus, past, present, and future.  REJOICE!

In today’s first reading from Isaiah, we have the familiar passage that Jesus proclaimed in the temple in Jerusalem: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me: He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners."

Listen to those words again: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon ME" – and upon you and each of us. WE are being sent to proclaim glad tidings to the poor, to heal, to liberate, to release. What are the good tidings? God loves you unconditionally right where you are. You are welcome in our church, our school, our community. How can we assist you? How can we be there for one another?  Prayer, of course. But we can also be there, for example, through the work of our local St. Vincent de Paul Society, with such items as food, rent money, and even our winter “HUGS” clothing drive (hats, underwear, gloves, and socks).  

Acknowledgement, a smile, a greeting, a conversation. Listen to the story. Be present. Be respectful. Be open. The Spirit is calling our community and each one of us to be ready and eager because we have been anointed at Baptism and Confirmation to spread the good news and, by our words and actions, to be bearers of glad tidings. 

Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, calls upon us to "Rejoice always" and adds, "Do not quench the Spirit."  Today's psalmist again reminds us about the significance of this Gaudete Sunday, declaring, "My soul rejoices in my God."

Filled with the Spirit of God, we are the hands and feet, the listening ear, the beating heart of Jesus on earth. Share His joy. Rejoice!

–Sandy Zajdel

Send Us Forth are reflections written by St. Matthew parishioners and friends.