“Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near.” (Philippians 4:4-5).  

The major theme for this Third Sunday of Advent, also known as the “Gaudete” Sunday, focuses on the “Joy” for the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Today’s Mass begins with the opening antiphon, “Gaudete in Domino semper” (“Rejoice in the Lord always”). Today we light the rose candle of the Advent wreath and the priest may wear rose or pink vestments to express our communal joy in the coming of Jesus as our Savior.

We rejoice because: (1) we are celebrating the day of Christ’s birth that is near, (2) we recognize His daily presence in our lives and (3) we wait for His return in glory. We rejoice by realizing the presence of Jesus in our midst and receiving Him through our repentance, renewal of life and doing of God’s will.

The spirit of the Advent is of expectation and preparation for the Christmas feast as well as for the second coming of Christ and the penitential exercises suitable to that spirit. The readings invite us to rejoice and prepare to meet the coming Savior with prayers, supplications and thanksgiving, while the Gospel, the words of St. John the Baptist, warn us that the Lamb of God is even now in our midst, though we appear not to know Him.

God does not want us holding a relationship of Transaction but Transformation. Therefore, Dynamic Christian disciples are those who (1) BELIEVE, (2) GROW, (3) SERVE, (4) LOVE and (5) LEAD others to Jesus. Today’s topics invite us to repent our sins to abide with Christ who is our authentic joy, happiness and peace.

How can we repent our sins, reform our lives, fulfill God’s will to receive Christ Jesus our true joy, happiness and peace?   

Wishing everyone a blessed week in the Lord.