Third Sunday of Advent, Cycle C

Prayer

Loving Father, our season of Advent invites us to consider the blessings of heaven found here and in our future. As we look to Your Son’s return, help us to embrace the virtue of patience. May Your will be done and may Your Son return to us in glory. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Commentary

1st Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-18

Zephaniah is one of a long list of prophets in the Old Testament who generally spoke to the people about their tribulations caused by their own wickedness. However, in these few short versus, the prophet offers a short reprieve and allows the people to see that their woes would not last forever.

“Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged,” says Zephaniah. “The Lord, your God, is in your midst.” Later, these words are fulfilled as they are uttered again by the Angel Gabriel, “Fear not, Mary (daughter of Zion) for the Lord is with you.”

Our Advent Season is a time to sing the song of these ancient prophets. As we consider the trials that we must endure in this life, we are to show confidence in the Lord and “fear not.” Indeed, we should turn our sorrow to joy, for the Lord is in our midst.

So, “Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart!”

Question:

Is this Advent Season inspiring you to rejoice?

2nd Reading: Philippians 4:4-7

Our Season of Advent takes a turn this weekend with new colors, brighter lights, and the word, “Rejoice!”

The Third Sunday of Advent is also called Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday. Our Second Reading gives this Sunday its title: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again:

rejoice!”

These words bring us comfort as the shortest day and the longest night approaches. The day after the Winter Solstice (December 21/22), our days become a little brighter.

This is a time when we light the third candle of the Advent wreath. It is symbolic of the hope for brighter things to come as we now turn our attention to Christ, born of Mary, at Christmas. He is the light of the world, the North Star, who guides us out of our darkness. He is truly our cause for rejoicing!

Question:

How will you make the approaching Season of Christmas a time for rejoicing in Jesus, the light of the world?

Gospel: Luke 3:10-18

It is hard to see in the dark. Without light, we become confused and disoriented. We can be like the crowds in the Gospel who ask John the Baptist, “What should we do?”

In their darkest moment, the crowds in Luke’s Gospel were disoriented. In their confusion they reached out to John the Baptist and hoped that he would be their messiah. He quickly tells them that he is not. But, he gives the crowd hope and reason to rejoice. He says, “One mightier than I is coming,” and “he preached good news to the people.”

In our darkest moments, we might grasp at straws to find help. However, there is only one true light who will dispel our darkness. The challenge for us as Christians is to reach out to Christ, the light of the world.

Not to be confused with other “messiahs,” Jesus is the true Christ. He is the reason for Gaudete Sunday, our time to rejoice!

Question:

In your time of darkness, to whom do you turn for help?

This Week’s Task

In a few weeks, we will begin a new calendar year. Generally, people make New Year’s resolutions. Make a list of resolutions here. Place on the top of your list the following:

First Resolution: I will let Christ be my light and guide.

Second Resolution:

Third Resolution:

Fourth Resolution:

Group Prayer

Sing or say the following:

O Come, Thou Key of David, come

And open wide our heav’nly home;

Make safe the way that leads on high,

And close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

The prayer continues with Isaiah 12

Psalm

Response: Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

God indeed is my savior;

I am confident and unafraid.

My strength and my courage is the LORD,

and he has been my savior.

With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation.

R. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;

among the nations make known his deeds,

proclaim how exalted is his name.

R. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;

let this be known throughout all the earth.

Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,

for great in your midst

is the Holy One of Israel!

R. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

Conclude with an Our Father

Used with permission. All rights reserved. Christ in Our Neighborhood is a Scripture program designed by Bishop John P. Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix.