17 December, 2023 | Third Sunday of Advent | Gaudete Sunday
Gospel Jn 1:6-8, 19-28
A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light.
And this is the testimony of John.
When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests
and Levites to him
to ask him, “Who are you?”
He admitted and did not deny it,
but admitted, “I am not the Christ.”
So they asked him,
“What are you then? Are you Elijah?”
And he said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
So they said to him,
“Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?
What do you have to say for yourself?”
He said:
“I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,
‘make straight the way of the Lord,’”
as Isaiah the prophet said.”
Some Pharisees were also sent.
They asked him,
“Why then do you baptize
if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?”
John answered them,
“I baptize with water;
but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after me,
whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”
This happened in Bethany across the Jordan,
where John was baptizing.
Reflections:
The third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday or Rejoice Sunday. In his 2014 Gaudete Sunday homily, Pope Francis called it ‘Sunday of joy’. Why is it given this name? If we scan through the first and the second reading, we will find that Joy is the mood that dominated the texts. In the gospel instead, there is no explicit mention of the word. But we cannot deny that the spirit of joy pervades the air. We often associate John the Baptist with austerity and seriousness, but this time, when he saw Jesus and recognised that He was the One he was ‘preparing the way’ for, his heart must have leapt for joy, the way he leapt in his mother’s womb when Mary visited their home about 30 years ago. Imagine the glow in his face and the humble, serene smile, when he announced, “Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” With this recognition, his mission is accomplished, and with joyful surrender, said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” We should be joyful people therefore if we believe that Christ is in our midst.
Activity:
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. And with Mary say, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.”
Praise the Lord👏🙏🙏🙏
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