Gospel Reflection Dec 15 – Deacon Stephen Petrill
Sunday, December 15
Third Sunday of Advent
Lk 3: 10-18
Gospel:
The crowds asked John the Baptist,
“What should we do?”
He said to them in reply,
“Whoever has two cloaks
should share with the person who has none.
And whoever has food should do likewise.”
Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him,
“Teacher, what should we do?”
He answered them,
“Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.”
Soldiers also asked him,
“And what is it that we should do?”
He told them,
“Do not practice extortion,
do not falsely accuse anyone,
and be satisfied with your wages.”
Now the people were filled with expectation,
and all were asking in their hearts
whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, saying,
“I am baptizing you with water,
but one mightier than I is coming.
I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor
and to gather the wheat into his barn,
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Exhorting them in many other ways,
he preached good news to the people.
Gospel Reflection:
Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent, holds special significance as a moment of joyful anticipation amidst the penitential season of Advent. The name “Gaudete” comes from the Latin word for “rejoice,” drawn from the entrance antiphon. This Sunday we celebrate the nearness of Christ’s coming, reminding ourselves that the Advent season is about expectation and preparation, but also hope and joy. The color rose, used for the vestments, symbolizes this hope and joy, offering a contrast to the usual somber purple that marks the season of preparation and penance.
The readings for Gaudete Sunday deepen this theme of rejoicing amidst penitence and preparation. In the Gospel, John the Baptist exhorts us to prepare for the coming of the Messiah, urging us to live justly and with compassion. This call to moral and spiritual transformation is underscored by the apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians, where he reminds the faithful to “rejoice in the Lord always,” highlighting the importance of living with an attitude of gratitude and joy, regardless of circumstances. Gaudete Sunday thus invites us to look beyond the challenges of life and to remember the joy that comes from knowing Christ is near.
As we reflect on our own lives, Gaudete Sunday serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining hope and staying prepared we are living in a time of joy or a time of sorrow. Christ is near and he always keeps his promises. May we go forward this week with a deeper sense of anticipation and joy as we prepare for the Lord’s coming.
Deacon Stephen Petrill