3rd Sunday of Advent (Year C)
Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-18; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18
Today, we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday, which means the “Sunday of rejoicing.” The liturgy invites us to “Rejoice in the Lord.” All the readings for today are carefully selected to highlight this theme of joy. One might wonder why the Church emphasizes this theme on the Third Sunday of Advent each year. What is so significant about rejoicing at this particular time?
There are several reasons for this theme at the midpoint of Advent. One important reason is to help us refocus our preparation for the coming of the Lord. As humans, we often fall into negative patterns of thought. We tend to dwell on our weaknesses, sins, and failings, becoming passive, disheartened, and even despairing. This can obscure the greater truth of our faith: that Jesus came into the world to love us and reconcile us with God for eternity.
If we lose sight of this truth while preparing for Christmas, we risk missing the profound joy and hope that the Lord’s coming brings. Gaudete Sunday reminds us of this joy and lifts our spirits, urging us to focus on the promise of salvation.
The Church’s liturgy for Gaudete Sunday reflects this message through visible and audible symbols. The priest wears rose-colored vestments, a marked departure from the usual violet of Advent. The tone of the antiphons and prayers emphasizes joy and hope rather than penance and anticipation. On the Advent wreath, the candle for this Sunday is also rose-colored, highlighting the spirit of rejoicing.
We are reminded today that we are very close to encountering the Lord. The liturgy urges us to clothe ourselves with joy and hope, just as it is adorned with rose-colored vestments and decorations. Regardless of our circumstances—whether we are facing struggles, challenges, or seemingly insurmountable problems—we are called to rejoice. The reason for our joy is Jesus. He is the face of God’s love, the one who resolves our problems and reconciles us with God and one another.
Today’s readings feature three prominent figures: the Prophet Zephaniah, St. Paul, and St. John the Baptist. Each of them experienced challenging situations, yet they invited their audiences to rejoice.
The Prophet Zephaniah: Zephaniah lived around 600 years before Christ, during the time of King Josiah’s reforms. The Assyrian Empire, though in decline, still dominated the region. Judah was a vassal state of Assyria, and religious life was in disarray, with widespread worship of pagan gods like Baal and Asherah. Despite these dire circumstances, Zephaniah encouraged the people to rejoice because the Lord had withdrawn His judgment. He promised a future of restoration and redemption. Zephaniah looked at the situation while placing his hope in God.
St. Paul: In the second reading, we find St. Paul writing to the Philippians from prison. His circumstances were far from ideal. Paul faced numerous hardships: he was chained, beaten, and stoned (Acts 16:22–24); betrayed by friends (2 Tim. 1:15); deprived of material support (Phil. 1:19–20); and faced with uncertainties about his future (Phil. 1:19–20). Yet, Paul urged the Philippians to “Rejoice.” His deep faith in the nearness of the Lord sustained him, and this faith became the source of his joy.
St. John the Baptist: In the Gospel, St. John the Baptist calls people to repentance and renewal, preparing them for the coming of the Messiah. His message is described as “good news” because it heralds the reign of forgiveness, healing, and salvation. Despite his austere life in the wilderness—marked by hunger, thirst, harsh weather, and isolation (Mk. 1:4–6)—John found joy in his mission. His proclamation that God loves His people and desires to reconcile them to Himself was infused with hope and rejoicing.
All three figures—Zephaniah, Paul, and John—faced immense challenges. Yet, they were filled with joy and urged their audiences to rejoice. Similarly, we too may face struggles, whether they be internal battles, family conflicts, or challenges in our professional or personal lives. Our “wars,” “prisons,” and “wildernesses” may not be visible to others, but they are real. Today’s liturgy calls us to rise above these challenges and rejoice, knowing that God loves us and desires to reconcile us to Himself.
As someone once said, what matters most to God is our faith. Let us surrender ourselves at the feet of Jesus and say, “Yes, Lord, I know you are my God. It is you who can make me whole.”
Fr. Alex Domnic D’Mello
Sindhudurg
