Posted on December 13, 2024 View all Gospel Reflection
Shout for Joy!
This Sunday is called Gaudete Sunday and we celebrate it by the use of rose colored vestments as well as the rose colored candle in the Advent wreath. The very word “gaudete” in Latin means “rejoice [ye]”. Soon in Advent we will begin what are called the “O Antiphons” of Advent from December 17 until December 23. A small trivia moment is that the first letter of the Messianic titles in these antiphons: Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia spell out the Latin words ERO CRAS, meaning “Tomorrow, I will come.”
This Sunday marks our preparations from being penitential to being joy-filled. It is good to reflect on these antiphons in our daily prayer. Furthermore, when St. John the Baptist was asked by the crowds “What should we do?” he gave them concrete suggestions that told them to be generous and not selfish or abusive of people that they have business with.
That is a good lesson for us during this Advent season. We are called to look to the generosity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and how she said “Fiat” or yes to the angel and to God when she heard she was to be the mother of the Messiah. It would require her to go beyond what her own plans were and certainly would bring her to moments that would cause her great suffering as she accompanied Jesus Christ in his public ministry. So, as we look at the idea of gift-giving, do we give gifts to others because we are expecting something comparable back? We should be looking at the idea of gift-giving precisely as “gift”. A true gift is one that does not expect a return gift. Otherwise, it becomes a transaction just like going to the store.
When we look at gifts, we should also not limit ourselves to the idea of a physical gift. Sometimes the best gift of all is one that is of time or generosity of labor. As we prepare our homes for the celebration of Christmas, and as we look to see what we are going to give as gifts to family and friends, we should also remember to get a gift for the actual “birthday boy” – Jesus Christ. Let us rejoice today as we give thanks to the Lord for the fulfilment of his promise to us of eternal salvation.
