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Third Sunday of Advent

December 15, 2013 (Jerusalem Bible Translation)

Lectionary: 7 (New American Bible Translation)

Gaudete! – Rejoice! Rejoice!

This is Gaudete Sunday,the Sunday of rejoicing of God’s people. This is  the day we start to light the rose or pink candle on the Advent wreath. The tone of the season of Advent takes a turn, and we celebrate with joy.

Reading 1
IS 35:1-6A, 10

In this part of Isaiah, we see a different side of his prophecies of the coming Messiah. “Be strong,  fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication.” He speaks of very concrete and powerful terms of the saving power of God. For so long, the people had felt abandoned and isolated from God, but Isaiah gives the glorious hope of his sudden and involved return.

Responsorial Psalm
PS 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10

R. (cf. Is 35:4) Lord, come and save us.

Reading 2
JAS 5:7-10

Sometimes it’s easy to grow impatient for His return as we begin to lose trust in the plan of God. We begin to question our own ability endure any longer. In the time that James wrote this letter, there was a lot of impatience, as many of the persecuted Christians were expecting that Jesus should have already returned. This reading puts it into perspective for us, and reminds us to be patient as we wait. Once the final, or our personal judgement comes, we’ll likely feel that it did come very fast.

Gospel
MT 11:2-11

This Gospel from Matthew is powerful. John the Baptist sends his messengers to confirm once and for all that Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus doesn’t just say yes, He confirms through the list of miracles He has performed that fulfill the prophecies of this week’s first reading from Isaiah.

The lame the walk, the blind will see, the dead will live again!

We must be convicted by this same power. Jesus Christ, is truly God, and the same power that once came through the Incarnation to save us from our sins and change the world is still present through the Church. We joyfully await for Him to return to restore this world that is so desperately in need of Him and His saving  love.

 

Reflection done by Cristobal Almanza – @SoulPainter

Theme song – Ignite – Soundwave soundwave.cc 

 

Background music

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