December 15: Following-up on Sunday’s Mass / La Misa Dominical y la Semana que Viene

The common theme running through the prayers and the Scriptures for the Third Sunday (and the Third Week) of Advent is one of joy and encouragement. As we heard yesterday, the readings stress the need for patience in those awaiting the rebirth of Jesus in their hearts and lives. This Third Week gives us a message of hope – for people three millennia ago, for people at the beginning of the first millennium, and for people today.  

The Third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday because the Mass begins with the opening antiphon: “Gaudete in Domino semper” (“Rejoice in the Lord always”). Our joy in the coming of Jesus as our Savior is marked by the lighting of the Advent Wreath’s third candle, which is rose-colored, representing a “lightening” of the dark violet of the rest of the season of Advent. The color rose reminds us of the color of the sky at the very brink of morning, when the sun is just beginning to come up. The horizon takes on a pale rose hew that gradually gets redder and brighter as the sun rises. For faithful people, life is like a “long sunrise,” and the end of life is the entrance into the bright, “everlasting day” of eternal life. Indeed, let us rejoice!

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Pensando en lo que pasó ayer en la Misa, recordamos que el Domingo “Gaudete,” el tercer domingo de Adviento, representa un punto de inflexión en nuestra preparación para la Navidad. Su nombre proviene del latín “Gaudete,” que significa regocíjense o “alégrense.” La jornada se llena de un tono de alegría y esperanza, que se expresa en la antífona de entrada de la Misa: “Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, Gaudete” (Alégrense siempre en el Señor).

La Navidad, fiesta de gozo y salvación, está cerca. Incluso le pedimos a Dios que nos conceda celebrarla con alegría desbordante. porque se hace presente entre nosotros el Hijo que nació de María hace unos 2,000 años – nuestro Salvador.