Gaudete, the Third Sunday of Advent: Commentary

Isaiah 61: 1-2a, 10-11
Magnificat (Lk 1:46-54)
I Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1: 6-8, 19-28

The Third Sunday of Advent is called GAUDETE (i.e., "rejoice"), from the first Latin word in its Introit/Entrance Psalm. On this Sunday, the Church permits the use of rose-colored vestments in place of the more customary Advent violet. Why? if you take violet paint and mix in white (the color of rejoicing), you will eventually come to the color rose.

The First Reading, the Second Reading, and the canticle taking the place of the Responsorial Psalm for this day, all utilize the word "rejoice." The words of the prophet Isaiah are caught up in the spirit of hte Lord, who anoints God's Messiah and charges him to "announce a year of favor from the Lord." Today's psalm is not a psalm at all---it is the Canticle of Mary, the "Magnificat" sung with the refrain, "My soul rejoices in my God!" and proceeeds to tell us that "the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name!" St. Paul, in the Second Reading, tells his readers, "Rejoice always!" so that "in all circumstances, give thanks--for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

The Gospel gives us the second Sunday appearance of John the Baptist, giving testimony to all who would listen that he was "the voice of one crying out in the desert, make straight the way of the Lord. The Baptist points to the coming Messiah, our Savior Jesus Christ.

Abbot William of St. Thierry said:

Truly, you alone are the Lord. You dominion is our salvation. And this is clearly the reason: You first loved us so that we might love you---not because you needed our love, but because we could not be what you created us to be, except by loving you. Now, in these last days, you have spoken to us in your Son, your Word; for you to speak thus, in your Son, was to bring out into the light of day how much and in what way you loved us, for you did not spare your own Son, but delivered him up for us all."

(On the Contemplation of God)

This Sunday's propers and readings are sung in these pieces:

"The Desert Shall Rejoice," Music for Advent II, www.litpress.org

"Tell Out My Soul," Music for Advent II, www.litpress.org

"Rejoice in the Lord Alway," Music for Advent II, www.litpress.org (INTROIT)

"Dicite: pusillanimes," Music for Advent, www.litpress.org (COMMUNION)