Christmas mood EXTOLLED

On this Gaudete Sunday, traditionally, the 3^rd Sunday of Advent, the Church encourages her children to rejoice and exult, through the prophet Zephaniah. We are told to ‘sing aloud… rejoice and exult with all your heart…The Lord has taken away the judgements against you; he has cleared away your enemies…fear not…let not your hands grow weak. The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save, he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will quiet you by his love, he will exult over you with loud singing…’ (Zeph 3:14-18a). Furthermore, St Paul writing to the Philippians, as to us in this present moment, exhorts and emphasises, ‘rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice…’ (cf. Phil 4:4-7). The gospel extols the proper mood of Christmas when we read of John’s answer to the crowds asking, ‘What, then, shall we do?’ And he answered them, ‘whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise’ (cf Lk 3:19-18).

Beloved People of God, we know of the many moods associated with Christmas – joy, happiness, rejoicing, gladness, exultation, gratitude – these are some of the moods that are captured in the readings of this third Sunday of Advent. We must not lose sight of the mood of ‘giving’ or ‘sharing’. It seems to be the proper and the exceptional mood of Christmas. Hence John’s response or answer to the crowds stands out. It reminds us that the Lord in his generosity has given us the privileged opportunity to share in his divinity by becoming one of us.  

We pray that when the Lord comes in glory, we shall all be found in the proper mood, ready and prepared to attain the joys of so great a salvation and to be willing and eager to celebrate them always with solemn worship and glad rejoicing. 

 Fr. Ted

All to Jesus – Through Mary our Mother