Come Lord Jesus Series

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Third Sunday of Advent — Gaudete Sunday (Year A)

Entrance Antiphon:

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.

Indeed, the Lord is near.”

(cf. Philippians 4:4–5)

 

Reflection

Gaudete Sunday arrives like a sudden clearing in the sky. After weeks of watchfulness, longing, and patient attentiveness, the Church interrupts Advent’s gentle restraint with a command that is both startling and liberating: “Rejoice.” And then, as if to make sure we do not miss it: “Again I say, rejoice.” This is not a suggestion. It is a summons.

But Christian joy is not forced cheerfulness or surface happiness. St Paul writes these words from prison, reminding us that joy does not depend on circumstances being resolved. It depends on one unshakeable truth: “The Lord is near.” Not distant. Not delayed. Near.

Gaudete Sunday teaches us that joy is born from proximity. When God draws close, something within us begins to lift — even if life is still complex, even if questions remain unanswered. Joy, in Advent, is not the end of the journey; it is the sign that the journey is rightly oriented.

The rose vestments worn today are not a break from Advent, but a deepening of it. They signal that hope has matured into confidence. The waiting Church is now a rejoicing Church, because what she has longed for is already approaching. Christ is no longer just promised — He is at the door.

And yet, this joy is gentle. It does not rush. It allows space for rest — even for going back to bed when needed. Gaudete joy honours the whole person: body, soul, and spirit. It reminds us that rejoicing does not mean pushing harder, but trusting more deeply.

To rejoice “in the Lord” is to let joy rest not on productivity, not on progress, not even on spiritual success — but on relationship. The Lord is near. That is enough.

Today, Advent gives us permission to smile, to breathe, to receive joy as grace rather than achievement. Joy does not cancel waiting; it sustains it.

So we rejoice — not because everything is finished,
but because God is close.

Some people believe that they do not have time to pray or that they are too busy.  The practices are for all of us to keep us focused  and renew our focus throughout the day.  It can be any 15 seconds you have... sitting at a traffic light, in a queue at the supermarket,  put the TV on silent during the advertisements ... all different times we can refocus. Find your time to stay focused this week.

Practice for Today:
Pause throughout the day, and pray slowly:
“Lord, You are near. I receive Your joy.”