On the Third Sunday of Advent

On the third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday (from the Latin word meaning “rejoice”), we contemplate joy. And the best definition of joy that I have ever come across, though I cannot remember where I found it, goes like this:

Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation.

Because this is the lesson of Advent, that in the midst of the heartache and sorrows that abound in this present moment, we can still rejoice. We can rejoice because of the Christ-child who came into the world to live a perfect life, die on the cross, and rise again for our forgiveness, and we can rejoice because one day the Christ-King will come again to put an end to our suffering once and for all. So, on this third Sunday of Advent, with the celebration of Christmas less than two weeks away, we rejoice in the one who saves, and the lectionary readings help us to do just that.

Old Testament: Isaiah 35.1-10
In the Old Testament passage, we read of the return of God’s people from exile and the restoration of the Holy City. After the judgment and destruction of chapter 34, chapter 35 opens with a scenic vision of renewal. And so we read, “The wilderness and the dry land will be glad; the desert will rejoice and blossom like a wildflower. It will blossom abundantly and will also rejoice with joy and signing.” (verse 1-2a) And it is in this picture of renewal and restoration that “They will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.” In other words, God will restore and renew what was lost and damaged by sin, and His people are to look upon it and rejoice. As verse 10 confirms, “and the redeemed of the Lord will return and come to Zion with singing, crowned with unending joy. Joy and gladness will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.” What a day that will be when illness and death, suffering and sickness will come to an end. And so, Isaiah encourages us in verse 3, “Strengthen the weak hands, steady the shaking knees! Say to the cowardly: ‘Be strong; do no fear! Here is your God; vengeance is coming. God’s retribution is coming; he will save you.'”

Psalm: Psalm 146.5-10 or Luke 1.46b-55
Now, the lectionary gives us two options for the Psalm reading on this third Sunday of Advent. Psalm 146, verses 5-10, extols the compassion of God, especially as He attends to the neediest of His people. “Happy is the one whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them. He remains faithful forever.” (verses 5-6) Whether we are talking about the exploited and oppressed, the imprisoned, the blind, the resident aliens, the fatherless, it is God who is understood to be the help in their time of need. In other words, He is the one who rights the wrongs that we have suffered, because “The Lord reigns forver; Zion, your god reigns for all generations. Hallelujah!” (verse 10). The Christ-child came into the world to inaugurate the kingdom of God on earth, and one day, He will come again to consummate the kingdom of God once and for all. And so, we rejoice in praise because He is the solution for our every need.

The other option for the “psalm” reading comes from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1, verses 46-55, which is of course known as the Magnificat, the song of Mary. And though it is not a Psalm per se, it is nevertheless stands in that vein, because in it Mary voices her praise toward the God who has blessed her with the responsibility of carrying his Son. And so, “My soul praises the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” (verses 46-47). But her joy is not simply motivated by her privilege in carrying the Son of God, but because of what that child represents, namely the coming of God into the world to save His people. And so she sings in verse 50, “His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear him.” And again in verse 54, “He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he spoke to our ancestors.” Mary is able to rejoice, because she know that through her, God is setting into motion his eternal plan of salvation. So, also we rejoice as we await the completion of that plan at His second coming.

Gospel: Matthew 11.2-11
The Gospel reading then brings us face to face with the existential angst of this reality, namely that we have been promised joy but everywhere we look we only see suffering. In Matthew, chapter 11, we read of John the Baptist who has now been imprisoned and will soon be executed. So, he sends messengers to Jesus to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” (verse 3) Of course, this is the very man who had baptized Jesus in the Jordan River proclaiming Him to be the Lamb of God come to take away the sins of the world. But now, he is in prison, and his faith is wavering. And so, Jesus responds, not with condemnation mind you, but with compassion; “Go and report to John what you hear and see,” namely referring to the nature of His ministry. (verses 4-6) Of course, Jesus goes on in this passage to explain the importance of John’s ministry in the unfolding of God’s salvation by way of an appeal to Malachi 3:1, but the important part comes in verse 11, where we read, “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one great than John the Baptist has appeared, but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” In other words, we can rejoice even when the promise doesn’t match the reality, because we know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

New Testament: James 5.7-10
And lastly, the New Testament reading exhorts us to cultivate patience with our joy. “Therefore, brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord’s coming. … You also must be patient. Strengthen you hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.” (verse 7-8) And then, after he instructs us not to complain about one another, James goes on to say, “Brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name as an example of suffering and patience.” (verse 10) What James understands is that the strength to endure comes from joy, as he said back in chapter 1, verse 2, “Consider it great joy , my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials.” And the joy that we have in light of Christ’s first coming strengthens us to endure until His second coming. And so James exhorts us in this passage, “Brothers and sisters, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged, Look, the judge stands at the door.” Our common joy in the Advent of the Christ child should unite us in peace, because we endure better together.

During this Advent season, may Christ lead us into the fullness of joy as we patiently await His triumphant return.

For further study:
On the Season of Advent
On the First Sunday of Advent
On the Second Sunday of Advent