Homily Cycle A 12-15-19 - Readings http://usccb.org/bible/readings/121519.cfm

Here we are on the 3^rd Sunday of Advent, a.k.a. Gaudete Sunday, REJOICE SUNDAY.  Today we are reminded to rejoice in our Advent preparations and sacrifices because the Lord is close at hand.  We are reminded that our Celebration of Joy to the World our Savior reigns is only 9 days away.

We prayed at the beginning of our liturgy, “O God who see how your people faithfully wait the feast of the Lord’s Nativity.”  That prayer urges us to put our spiritual Christmas preparations ahead of any other Christmas preparations we are making.

John the Baptist prepared for the Messiah like a farmer who has planted the fields and awaits the harvest or like someone who prepared the cookies and other sweet treats – has placed them in the oven and waits patiently for them to bake.  As John the Baptist suffered, [in prison], he had a laser-like focus on finding and revealing the Messiah.

From the book of the prophet Isaiah we heard, “The desert and the parched land will exult … [they] will rejoice with joyful song ….  Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; the lame will leap like a stag … and the tongue of the dumb will sing.”

Is this the year? Is this the year?

The letter from James tells to “Be patient … until the coming of the Lord … be patient.”  John the Baptist lived, even while suffering, expecting to see the glory of the Lord, to be “crowned with everlasting joy … [when] sorrow and mourning will flee.”  John asked, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”  John came to know and understand that Jesus was and is the Messiah, the Savior of the world.

Advent calls upon each one of us to focus our lives, our actions, and our thoughts on making Jesus the center of all we say and do!

  We are the Messiah’s heralds in our day and in our age!  We are called to live the truth that Jesus will save us individually and collectively - acknowledging that we do not know the day/hour.  We do know we need to be ready for the Lord might return at any moment, therefore we should live a life of rejoicing and anticipating our salvation.  Our joy can only be found in Jesus Christ who is our Lord and our Savior.

“Let us sing then with all our hearts, not just on Gaudete Sunday, but always … let us dance under the wreath of eternity, that all is joy in God….  [Magnificat, December 2019, p. 204, Mother Mary Francis, P.C.C.}

Let our Rejoicing be at the core of our being and when disappointments and sorrows beset us, may we remember to follow our Blessed Mother’s example and take our burdens to her Son and our Lord Jesus Christ for His blessing and His healing, knowing that Jesus will turn our tears into dancing and our sorrows into joy.

Listen carefully to the words of this hymn:

“Wait when the seed is planted,

Wait for the rain to fall;

Wait for the restless green sprout,

Wait while the plant grows tall.

Wait for the coming Savior,

Wait for the kingdom’s dawning,

Wait till we see his face!

Hope for the coming Savior,

Hope through the heart’s slow race;

Hope for the kingdom’s dawning,

Hope till we see his face!

Trust in the coming Savior,

Trust in the heart’s slow race;

Trust in the kingdom’s dawning,

Trust till we see his face!

[The Magnificat, pgs. 204-05, The hymn can be sung to the tune used for O Sacred Head, Surrounded, Meter:76 76 D]]

Advent reminds us to conform our lives to the Lord’s and rejoice in His timetable.  For a few minutes, in silence, reflect on how you can use the next nine days of Advent to build God’s Kingdom in your heart,

in your family, in your community and in our world.

May God Be Praised!