This Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent, is one of my favorites in the year. Gaudete Sunday – Rejoice!
For two weeks we have been mindful of our sins, preparing our hearts for the coming of the Lord. We’ve gone to the parish Penance Services. We’ve built beds of paper straw for the baby Jesus as we teach our kids about doing good deeds. We’ve kicked up the prayer life. And we’ve heard the Mass readings speak of our guilt and our need to prepare for the coming of our King.
But on Sunday we rejoice for we know that Emmanuel shall come to us. We know that He comes not to berate us but to “bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners” (Isaiah 61).
On Sunday we rejoice with Mary as we sing out, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked upon his lowly servant. The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.”
Gaudete Sunday – also called Rose or Pink Sunday because of its liturgical color – is so good because I know that our God is a God who keeps His promises. He is loving and merciful. He is all good. How can we not rejoice that He is coming near to us? How can we not rejoice that His Kingdom is at hand and in it He gives dignity to the outcasts; heals the blind, sick, and lame; and restores life? How can we not rejoice that our Savior is coming?
For our family, this is the Sunday when we buy the tree and decorate it. We listen to Christmas carols nonstop. We bake Christmas cookies. This is the day we begin to celebrate knowing that in another week we will be doubling our efforts of preparation. I appreciate the opportunities that Holy Mother Church gives us to confess, refocus, and prepare but I love the occasions it gives us to celebrate and be joyful.
