Rejoice!

Reflection adapted from Living Space commentary on 3rd Sunday of Advent (B) – 17 Dec 17

Isaiah 61:1-2,10-11, 1 Thess 5: 16-24,John1:6-8, 19-28

Full commentary can be found in Living Space section of Sacred Space:

“A man came, sent by God. His name was John. He came as a witness, as a witness to speak for the light, so that everyone might believe through him. He was not the light, only a witness to speak for the light.” John 1: 6-8

The first word of the entrance hymn today is “Rejoice!” In the past, Advent was a penitential season and the sombre atmosphere was emphasised by the traditionally penitential purple colour of thevestments. But in the middle of it all, people needed to be reminded of what they were preparing for – the very joyful occasion of the birth of Jesus. Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday is a window of joy and brightness in anticipation of what is to come. So today the violet vestments give way to a pinkish-red or “rose”.

Why rejoice?Because we are soon to remember that Jesus, the Son of God, came to live among us, as one of us. We rejoice too because the Lord brings such good news. At the beginning of his public ministry Jesus will read the text from Isaiah which wehear in the first reading: “The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me for the Lord has anointed me…………..He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up hearts that are broken; to proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to those in prison; to proclaim a year of grace from the Lord.”

(Is 61:1-2)

The focus of today’s Gospel passage is John the Baptist, “the witness to speak for the light.” Jesus is the light and John is a witness to the light. Perhaps we could re-read the words and replace the name of John with our own name. Because each one of us, by our baptism and our membership in Christ’s family, has been sent to give witness to the Light. The Sermon on the Mount speaks of us as “the light of the world”. As we prepare to celebrate Christmas and the coming of God into our lives through Jesus we need also to remind ourselves that we have been called to be the means of bringing Jesus into other people’s lives.

Light in darknessAt Christmas time our cities are bathed in light. But so many have no idea that this light symbolises our Lord Jesus, the Light of the World, born among us at this time. And we may ask ourselves - how can we bring the light of Jesus into people’s lives? How many will experience Jesus being reborn within them through our witnessing? So many people out there live in darkness. They are poor in so many ways, even though they may be financially well-off. There are so many, in the midst of all the superficial jollity, who feel lonely, unwanted, rejected, marginalised. So many broken hearts amid all the party-going.

So many out there are waiting for us to shine the light of Christ on them and to turn their lives into experiences of joy, of wholeness and integrity. The joy of Christmas can only be ours to the extent that we work with Jesus to bring that joy into the lives of others too.

Pause for thought

  • How can I, as a Vincentian, bring the Light of Christ into people’s lives this Christmas?