3rd Sunday of Advent Year C

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3rd Sunday of Advent – Gaudete Sunday (Rejoicing Sunday)

Today, we celebrate the 3rd Sunday of Advent, otherwise known as Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete Sunday means rejoicing. Today, we light the 3rd Advent Candle. The 3rd Advent Candle is a rose color candle because it is combination of the purple (symbol of advent) and the white (symbol of Christmas). The 3rd candle is a reminder that we have reached our halfway point in our Advent Journey. We are halfway to Christmas, and that’s cause for rejoicing.

To rejoice is a difficult message for people, especially those of old. For the Israelites, it was difficult to rejoice while they were enslaved in Egypt. It was difficult to rejoice when their temple was destroyed. The prophets consistently remind the Israelites, especially during times of difficulty, that they must rejoice always. Because the Lord God is always their God, and they are always His people.

It was no different with the early Christians who experience persecution, imprisonments, and martyrdom. St. Paul’s message encourages them to rejoice, because God is always by their side. He encourages them to rejoice because they are given an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Christ. Because Jesus says: “If you wish to follow me, you must pick up your crosses and follow me.”

Therefore, in their trials and sufferings, they are called to have a change of attitude, a change of mind and a change of heart.

The greek word Metanoia means a change of mind. Our Lord Jesus was Christ was teaching people the importance of having a Metanoia. He wanted the people to have a different outlook, a different understanding, a different vision of what the Kingdom of God entails. The Kingdom of God he proclaims, now in their midst, is a kingdom of love, peace, forgiveness and compassion.

Today’s gospel passage captures the people’s desire to have a Metanoia. People were approaching John the Baptist and asking him: “What must we do?” John’s message is very simple and practical. “If you have two cloaks, share it with those who have none.” To the tax collectors, he said: “Don’t practice extortion. Don’t falsely accuse anyone.” In other words, we are called to live in right relationship with God. To be in right relationship is to align our way of thinking with that of God.

Numerous people in the scriptures have a Metanoia experiences.

On hearing that Jesus was passing through town, Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree. Luke writes that Zacchaeus is a Chief Tax Collector. The irony Luke points out, is that this midget, the shortest man in the bible has a high position. SIDENOTE: Someone approached me after mass and said: “Father, Zacchaeus is not the shortest man in the bible. It’s Nehemiah. Get it, Knee-High-Miah. (Sorry for that pun).

Jesus, on seeing Zacchaeus on the sycamore tree, told him that he was going to stay at his home. Zacchaeus had a conversion experience and said: “Half of my possession I will give to the poor. To those whom I exhorted, I will repay fourfold. Jesus said: “Today, salvation has come upon this household. For this man too is a descendant of Abraham.” For us today, being a descendant of Abraham may not mean much. But it meant a great deal for the Jewish people, because Abraham is the Father of faith, and his descendants are the chosen people of God.

St. Paul, another person who undergoes a Metanoia, was formerly known as Saul of Tarsus. As a zealous Pharisee, he persecuted Christians for claiming that Jesus is the Son of God. The book of Deuteronomy says: “Hear O Israel, the Lord your God is one.” For Saul of Tarsus, it is blasphemous to claim a human person to be the Son of God, or even God Himself. Under his authority, many Christians were persecuted, imprisoned and martyred. It was under his authority that Stephen died a martyr’s death, becoming the first Christian martyr.

But while he was on the road to Damascus, to persecute more Christians, he sees the risen Jesus. Jesus says: “Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Saul says: “Who are you, sir?” Jesus says: “I am Jesus, the one whom you are persecuting.” After his experience, he undergoes Metanoia. His conversion made him one of the greatest apostles to the Gentiles. His message is that Jesus is alive, and that He is truly the Son of God.

The third person is St. Thomas. Nicknamed the “Doubting Thomas”, he didn’t believe that Jesus is alive. Where was he when the other disciples gathered in the upper room and saw Jesus for the first time? Where did he go? He probably resumed his former way of life. The other disciples like Peter, James and John did. They went back to fishing, failing to remember that they are called to a new way of life: “To be fishers of men.” Thomas doubted and said: “Until I place my fingers into his hand, and until I place my hand into his side, I will believe.” He came to the upper room the second time, and upon seeing the risen Jesus he said: “My Lord and my God.” He has a metanoia experience. Jesus says: “Thomas, you have seen me, and so you believe, but blessed are those who have not seen, but believe.”

Friends, we rejoice because we are those people that Jesus has blessed. We have not seen Jesus like his early disciples, but we believe in him because we are given the gift of faith. This gift of faith allows us to recognize Jesus, like the two disciples on the road of Damascus, in the breaking of the bread, and sharing of the cup. In the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, Jesus is fully present, body and blood, soul and divinity, under the appearance of bread and wine. So many Catholics today stopped practicing their faith because their eyes are not open to recognize the real presence of Jesus in his precious body and blood. They are spiritually blind as Bartimaus is physically. Let us pray that they may undergo that Metanoia experience and recognize Jesus’ real presence in the Holy Eucharist. Blessed be the name of Jesus and may our blessed Mother Mary be with you always.