THE 3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (DEC. 17TH)

By Bp. Joseph (Ancient  Church of the West) 

THE JOYOUS SONG OF ADVENT CONTINUES 

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11)”

Introduction 

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, as we gather on this sacred Third Sunday of Advent, let us immerse ourselves in the profound joy that emanates from the traditional Latin Mass' exhortation: "Gaudete in Domino semper" — "Rejoice in the Lord always." In these liturgical rhythms, we discern an invitation to celebrate the imminent dawn of the Incarnation, the culmination of our ascetic journey through Advent into the radiant dawning of the Son! 

Scripture 

Our sacred readings today resonate with these ancient melodies of expectation and fulfillment. In the words of Baruch, we find solace as Jerusalem is summoned to “cast off the garments of sorrow, adorning herself in the splendor of God's glory forever (Baruch 5:1).” This luminous promise unfolds, reaching its crescendo in the Gospel of John, where the Baptist heralds the advent of the Light — a Light that pierces the darkness, dispelling our anxieties and igniting the flame of hope and transformation. “He was that Light, but the darkness comprehended Him not.” 

The Epistle to the Romans, in its melodic prose, harmonizes with the prophets of old, affirming that "whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope (Romans 15:4).” The Scriptures become a tapestry of hope, woven with threads of ancient wisdom and timeless guidance. We have hope that our shame will be turned into glory, our ashes into clay and our clay into useful vessels, our emptiness filled to the brim with truth and love by the rain of the Holy Spirit, all woven about with golden and silver threads of grace that culminate in the bright and shining Icon of the Father in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ! In Advent we follow these threads, these precious glimmers of light, that all lead to the Person of Our Savior, present in all times and all places through the hiddenness of the Incarnation. 

Let us look again at our Gospel Reading from today: “At that time the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask John ‘Who are you?’ He confessed, but did not deny it, but confessed 'I am not the Messiah. And they asked him, 'What then? Are you Elijah?' He said, 'I am not. 'Are you the prophet?' He answered, 'No. Then they said to him, 'Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?' He said, 'I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord’ as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, 'Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?' John answered them, 'I baptize with water. 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.’ This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing (John 1:19-28).” Truly, St. John the Baptist, the Cousin of Our Lord, understood the profound meaning of the Incarnation and even saw that its “laces” tie together the whole universe. None of us are worthy to tie Christ’s shoe! 

The Chorus of the Fathers

The Cappadocian Fathers, those luminaries of our holy Church, resonate in our liturgical journey, reminding us “Advent is not a mere countdown, but a sacred pilgrimage.” St. Gregory the Great's chants resonate through time, the heavenly tones of the Ancient West, inviting us to "live up to the heavenly mysteries that we celebrate."

St. Augustine, that profound and important theologian, speaks to our restless hearts this Advent, proclaiming that "our hearts are restless until they rest in You." As we await the birth of the Holy Child, let us find our rest in Him, the wellspring of eternal joy and peace. Let these last days of Advent guide us into lasting and profound rest, as we submit to God and love one another, through fasting, prayer, and preparation for Christmas! 

St. Ambrose of Milan, his voice joining with the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom’s command to “lift up our hearts”, unites us in the heavenly hymns of East and West, forging a spiritual bond that transcends the divisions of our earthly borders. Let us heed his words as we prepare for the grandeur of the Incarnation: "In His birth, He was made small; on the Cross, He made Himself even smaller."

Our Personal Application 

As we stand on the cusp of this great mystery, let our heads bow in prayer, invoking the Collect for this Gaudete Sunday:

"Incline your ears to our prayer, O Lord, and enlighten the darkness of our minds by the grace of your coming; through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for all ages of ages. Amen."

May this Advent season fill our hearts with the holy joy that transcends intellectual understanding, preparing us to receive with awe and gratitude the inconceivable gift of the Incarnate Word. "Gaudete in Domino semper" — "Rejoice in the Lord always." In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.