Rejoice: Contentment and Hope
Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11; Psalm-Luke 1:46-50, 53-54; 1 Thess. 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28
The third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is the Latin word for “rejoice.” This Sunday is so named because “rejoice” is the first word of today’s Entrance Antiphon curled from Philippians 4:4-5. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice! The Lord is near.”
This Sunday is a joyful reminder that our salvation is near. We are called to rejoice in the Lord and not in the world. A drunken person rejoices in the world; a scammer rejoices in the world; a fornicator rejoices in the world. This kind of joy, beloved, is a mirage. So we are to rejoice in the Lord.
Each time I think of the words “rejoice always” (1 Thess. 5:16), I remember the words “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). Thus, the theology of rejoicing does not exonorate moments of grief. Precisely because of this, Paul says in Rom 12:15, Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Matthew 5:4: Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Though they mourn, there is comfort for them. Let us learn to comfort those who mourn, share in the joy of those who are happy, and not be saddened or jealous. Matt.2:13 Herod, rather than share in the joy of the birth of the new king, wanted to kill him. Some people are like that; rather than share in your joy and progress, they will want to take away your joy.
Again, “rejoice always” does not mean that Christians will never be sad or grieved. Mary is regarded as our Lady of sorrows, yet she is also the cause of our joy; all the psalms in the Bible are narratives of joys and pains. So, when the second reading says “rejoice in the Lord always,” it simply means we should have an attitude of contentment and hope. Contentment when there is plenty and hope when there is nothing. Our hearts may be heavy with sorrow because of trials, but we are confident that God will not fail.
Closely related to today’s theme is gratitude. Gratitude was expressed in the song of Mary. In Luke, she says, “My soul glorifies the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.” So, in spite of the humiliation, her soul did not cease to rejoice. God had made us glad; nothing should make us sad. Similarly, Isaiah’s voice in the first reading was a song of gratitude. Isaiah magnifies God for the gift of grace. He is grateful to God because, despite his unclean background and lips,
has wrapped him in the cloak of integrity. Amidst trials and woes, you can either regret or rejoice. Beloved, rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice. The second reading unites this message of joy and gratitude with prayer. It says, “Rejoice always, pray constantly, and give thanks in all circumstances.” Thus, a life without prayer lacks joy and gratitude.
Lastly, in the Gospel, John knew that his assignment was to bring people to Christ. He fulfilled his task and left the stage. At his departure, he says, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30). Often times, we are not satisfied with our God’s given assignment; we desire others’ and are unwilling to leave the stage. Beloved, through humility and courage, let us bring people to Jesus.
Let us pray.
O God, who sees how your people faithfully await the feast of the Lord’s Nativity, enable us, we pray, to attain the joys of so great a salvation and to celebrate them always with solemn worship and glad rejoicing. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
