The third Sunday of AdventAn Exceptional Candle!
December 12, 2010, Third Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 35:1, 4-5 Philippians 4:4-7 Matthew 11:2-11
First reading
Second reading
Alleluia, alleluia.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
Glory to you, Lord.
When John the Baptist sitting in prison heard of the works of the Christ, he sent a delegation to Jesus with this question, “Are you he who is to come, or should we wait for someone else?” Jesus answered, “Go back and tell John what you are hearing and seeing: the blind are receiving their sight, the lame are walking, the lepers are being cleansed, the deaf are hearing, the dead are being raised, and the poor are having the good news preached to them. And give him this message, `Blessed are those who don’t doubt me.’”
As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out to the desert to see? Were you expecting to see a reed swayed by the wind? Or someone dressed in fine clothing? Those bedecked in fine clothing dwell in royal palaces. Were you expecting to see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: `Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.[1]’ Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
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Introduction
Gaudete Sunday
Introduction
Gaudete Sunday
The entrance verse of the old Latin Mass for the third Sunday of Advent was the exhortation of Paul (sitting in prison) to the Philippians: “Gaudete semper in Domino! Iterum dico, gaudete!” “Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I say rejoice!” (Phil: 4:4). So the third Sunday of Advent came to be called “Gaudete Sunday.” On this Sunday, the color rose may be used for the vestments at Mass, instead of penitential purple. And rose is also the color of the third candle of the Advent wreath. That candle burning brightly today commands us to rejoice, for Christmas Day is drawing near. In fact, the Novena of Christmas begins this coming Friday, Dec. 17.
John in jail
Last Sunday John the Baptist was a clear and unambiguous voice in the desert calling the people to make straight the way of the Lord, and hasten the day of His coming. (Mt 3:3) This Sunday, however, it’s a very different picture: John is sitting in prison, and he’s not so sure of himself anymore. He has gotten himself into deep trouble with the Jewish ruler of Galilee, Herod Antipas, for telling him it was unlawful to marry Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. That angers Herod who throws the Baptist into prison. (Mt 14:1-4) He who baptized Jesus and heard the voice from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased,” isn’t so sure of himself anymore. He now wonders, “Did I get it right?” So he sends a delegation to ask Jesus point blank, “Are you he who is to come, or should we wait for someone else?” (Mt 11:3)
Upbeat Isaiah & Paul
In the first reading the prophet Isaiah is addressing a group of exiles who are politically powerless. He, however, is not depressed. He is, in fact, upbeat. Amazingly, he proclaims to the people a message of joy: “The desert will rejoice, and flowers will bloom in the wastelands. The desert will sing and shout for joy.”
In the second reading, Paul, who is locked in a dungeon and bound with chains for preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, pens a letter to the Philippians. (Phil 1:13-14) Paul who five times suffered thirty-nine lashes by the Jews, who three times was whipped by the Romans and once stoned by them, who was in three shipwrecks, and once spent twenty-fours in the water, and who was imprisoned many more times than his co-workers (2Cor. 23-29) – as he writes to the Philippians from prison amazingly is not depressed. He, in fact, is upbeat, as he issues his classical command: "Gaudete in Domino semper!” “Rejoice in the Lord always!” To say it once wasn’t enough; he repeats himself: "Iterum, dico, gaudete." "Again, I say, rejoice.” (Phil 4:4) "Gaudete" is the strong imperative mood of the Latin: it does not invite one to rejoice; it commands one to rejoice.
In the second reading, Paul, who is locked in a dungeon and bound with chains for preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, pens a letter to the Philippians. (Phil 1:13-14) Paul who five times suffered thirty-nine lashes by the Jews, who three times was whipped by the Romans and once stoned by them, who was in three shipwrecks, and once spent twenty-fours in the water, and who was imprisoned many more times than his co-workers (2Cor. 23-29) – as he writes to the Philippians from prison amazingly is not depressed. He, in fact, is upbeat, as he issues his classical command: "Gaudete in Domino semper!” “Rejoice in the Lord always!” To say it once wasn’t enough; he repeats himself: "Iterum, dico, gaudete." "Again, I say, rejoice.” (Phil 4:4) "Gaudete" is the strong imperative mood of the Latin: it does not invite one to rejoice; it commands one to rejoice.
Upbeat Beethoven
This coming Thursday, Dec.16, is Ludwig van Beethoven's birthday (b. 1770). It falls appropriately near Gaudete Sunday when we light the rose candle of joy. Though contemporary drawings of this genius show him to be a rather serious man, Beethoven composed an extraordinary piece of music that is suffused with joy. In the final movement of his Ninth Symphony he put to music Schiller's poem "Ode to Joy.” It is one of the most moving choral works ever written. More to the point, however, Beethoven wrote his Ninth Symphony at a time when he was sitting in a prison of deafness! Despite that handicap, so disastrous for a musician, that great genius was not depressed; he was, in fact, quite upbeat, as he heard the beautiful melodies and haunting harmonies of the Ninth playing entirely inside his head!
Upbeat Fr. Delp
German Jesuit, Fr. Alfred Delp, was executed by Hitler on February 2, 1945. Sitting in prison and bound with chains like Paul, he was not depressed. He was, in fact, upbeat, as he wrote in his diary for Gaudete Sunday, 1944,
Is it possible to rejoice in a prison cell (a space of three paces in each direction)? Is it possible to rejoice when your hands are fettered, and your heart is overwhelmed with longings, and your head is filled with problems and worries? Yes, happiness can happen even under these circumstances. I tell you every now and then my heart can scarcely contain the delirious joy that’s in it. Suddenly, not knowing why, my spirits soar and there is no doubt in my mind that all the promises hold good. This might, indeed, be an unconscious defense mechanism against depression. But not always. Sometimes it is due to a wonderful premonition of wonderful things to come. (Prison Meditations of Fr. Delp)
Joy -- an `inside job’ & a mystery
A culture which protests “I want to be me!” frowns on any attempt to command our emotional states. It says, “If I want to go around grouching “Bah humbug!” like old Scrooge because something has gone wrong in my life, then that’s what I’m going to do, and don’t tell me to cheer up.” On Gaudete Sunday Paul, who has every reason to cry out “Bah humbug!”as he sits in prison, instead commands the Philippians to rejoice.
Paul, the prisoner, can command the Philippians to rejoice, because joy is an `inside job.’ It is a decision not to get stuck in one’s losses, privations or tragedies. To use the vernacular of the season, joy is a decision to sing out “Merry Christmas!" instead of grouching out “Bah Humbug!” To evoke the climate of December, joy is a decision to not be snowbound by the negative circumstances of life. The rose candle burning brightly on Gaudete Sunday (and sticking out from the other three) reminds us that joy is not a mood totally at the mercy of outside happenstances. With help from above, joy is also an `inside job.’
As a decision not to get stuck in one’s losses, privations or tragedies, joy is a mystery. Why is it that old Scrooge, who has all the money he needs, makes a decision to grouch out “Bah Humbug, while his nephew, who has almost nothing at all, makes a decision to ring out “Merry Christmas?” Being happy when we get what we want is no mystery. Being happy even when we don’t get what we want is, indeed, a great mystery.
Paul, the prisoner, can command the Philippians to rejoice, because joy is an `inside job.’ It is a decision not to get stuck in one’s losses, privations or tragedies. To use the vernacular of the season, joy is a decision to sing out “Merry Christmas!" instead of grouching out “Bah Humbug!” To evoke the climate of December, joy is a decision to not be snowbound by the negative circumstances of life. The rose candle burning brightly on Gaudete Sunday (and sticking out from the other three) reminds us that joy is not a mood totally at the mercy of outside happenstances. With help from above, joy is also an `inside job.’
As a decision not to get stuck in one’s losses, privations or tragedies, joy is a mystery. Why is it that old Scrooge, who has all the money he needs, makes a decision to grouch out “Bah Humbug, while his nephew, who has almost nothing at all, makes a decision to ring out “Merry Christmas?” Being happy when we get what we want is no mystery. Being happy even when we don’t get what we want is, indeed, a great mystery.
Conclusion
An exceptional candle!
People who are blessed with good health, who enjoy the certainty of a paycheck in these hard times, who have loyal friends to stand by them in thick and thin, and who receive the gifts they want at Christmas, do not need a rose candle burning brightly to command them to rejoice. Joy comes easily and automatically for them.
But there are many others who do, indeed, need the rose candle to command them to rejoice. These are the people who, at this “happiest time of the year,” are suffering personal crises of health, finances or relationships. The holiday music which sings out “T’is the season to be jolly” jars the ears of those who are enduring the “long good-bye” of a loved one afflicted with Alzheimer’s, or are grieving the demise of a spouse of 30, 40, 50 years, etc. Such people (their name is legion during the holiday season) feel excluded, left out in the cold, by a celebration of Christmas which puts a heavy expectation of joy on them. The rose candle burning brightly in mid-Advent is an exceptional candle: it summons first and foremost those who weep to rejoice! The rose candle burns brightly first and foremost for them!
[1] Malachi 3:1
But there are many others who do, indeed, need the rose candle to command them to rejoice. These are the people who, at this “happiest time of the year,” are suffering personal crises of health, finances or relationships. The holiday music which sings out “T’is the season to be jolly” jars the ears of those who are enduring the “long good-bye” of a loved one afflicted with Alzheimer’s, or are grieving the demise of a spouse of 30, 40, 50 years, etc. Such people (their name is legion during the holiday season) feel excluded, left out in the cold, by a celebration of Christmas which puts a heavy expectation of joy on them. The rose candle burning brightly in mid-Advent is an exceptional candle: it summons first and foremost those who weep to rejoice! The rose candle burns brightly first and foremost for them!
[1] Malachi 3:1
