Fr. Joeven Matugas, SX
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
This Sunday is called the Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete means “Rejoice”. The expected joy that the Messiah has now come to save us and make us free. To make us free from our struggles, from our distress, from our poverty. Prophet Isaiah announces “The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will walk, the dumb will speak and they will all sing for gladness and shout for joy” (Is 36:1-10). This is something marvellous in our own eyes, the acts of God that are now taking place. Many will not believe this. But we can rest assured that this prophecy is being realized in faith.
I do like the expression that I hear from people who say that `God has really been good to us`. Meaning “ He does not ignore our pleas and our cries. He is faithful to his Word, to his Promise to us. In times of difficulty, we hang on to him. When we are down He will raise us up”. This is the glorious expectation of the coming of the Lord.
In this time of Advent we are asked to prepare for the coming of Christ in a deep and profound way. Christ is the light that shines in the darkness. The darkness of our lives. The darkness of our sins. The preparation is not just something external but internal. It is a spiritual preparation more than a social preparation.
Today people are already preparing the Christmas Crib, the Christmas Tree, theChristmas Lantern, the Christmas Gifts, the Neon Lights for the coming of Christmas Day. These are outward expression of the faith. This is the joy of thanksgiving. But I would say, all the readings of this season, from Prophet Isaiah to the Gospel urge us to look deeper into the mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus. The Son of God became a human being like us but did not sin. How can the message of “coming” into us be sincerely accepted and well meditated upon? We need to understand this well. In this way we can assume the right attitude and say: “ We are ready O Lord for you to come under our roof, inside our heart”.
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
This Sunday is called the Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete means “Rejoice”. The expected joy that the Messiah has now come to save us and make us free. To make us free from our struggles, from our distress, from our poverty. Prophet Isaiah announces “The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will walk, the dumb will speak and they will all sing for gladness and shout for joy” (Is 36:1-10). This is something marvellous in our own eyes, the acts of God that are now taking place. Many will not believe this. But we can rest assured that this prophecy is being realized in faith.
I do like the expression that I hear from people who say that `God has really been good to us`. Meaning “ He does not ignore our pleas and our cries. He is faithful to his Word, to his Promise to us. In times of difficulty, we hang on to him. When we are down He will raise us up”. This is the glorious expectation of the coming of the Lord.
In this time of Advent we are asked to prepare for the coming of Christ in a deep and profound way. Christ is the light that shines in the darkness. The darkness of our lives. The darkness of our sins. The preparation is not just something external but internal. It is a spiritual preparation more than a social preparation.
Today people are already preparing the Christmas Crib, the Christmas Tree, theChristmas Lantern, the Christmas Gifts, the Neon Lights for the coming of Christmas Day. These are outward expression of the faith. This is the joy of thanksgiving. But I would say, all the readings of this season, from Prophet Isaiah to the Gospel urge us to look deeper into the mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus. The Son of God became a human being like us but did not sin. How can the message of “coming” into us be sincerely accepted and well meditated upon? We need to understand this well. In this way we can assume the right attitude and say: “ We are ready O Lord for you to come under our roof, inside our heart”.