Third Sunday of Advent

Fr Dominic’s Homily

Today is the 3rd Sunday of Advent and is known as Gaudete Sunday or Rejoice Sunday. (Similar to Laetare Sunday which marks the half way through lent).  Now it’s time to be a little bit honest. We as human beings aren’t always incredibly joyful! In fact there are even times when we can be utterly miserable!

It’s difficult for us as humans, to always be happy. After all we are walking paradoxes. Half physical half spiritual. All wrapped up in the psychological. Living most of our lives in a weird kind of existential battle often of our own making.

Projecting accusations onto others that it turns out only we ourselves are actually suffering from. Still upset over something our parents told us 50 years ago…And so many factors can affect our mood: stress, light levels, illness, diet, arguments, perceived slights from others and expensive dentist bills And the list goes on…

So when we say rejoice! It will soon be Christmas – that doesn’t always cut the mustard. In fact Christmas day itself can even be a stressful day for many with all the cooking and distant family and relatives around the table trying to make polite conversation..

But it is joy we focus on today and not simply happiness. Let’s just remind ourselves of the difference: Happiness can be just a superficial feeling that you get, like when you buy something new that you need or you see a good film. It appears easily but then vanishes just as quickly. A bit like the sort of sugar rush you get from eating something sweet. So happiness comes from outside of us and happens to us. It’s transient.

But joy is something different. It’s a sustained happiness that remains. Unlike happiness joy comes from within. Joy rises from our hearts. A joyful disposition is something that we choose through being routed in Christ. It’s in the same family as real love, forgiveness, prayer and faith. The same rules apply. If we choose for them - they are far more profound than just emotional feelings.

So how do we choose for and receive this joy in out hearts?  Well in the Gospel we get the answer. The message of John the Baptist was to wake people up from spiritual sleep and indifference, and to turn them back to hear God’s voice. He told people to carry out the good works of mercy. Give to the poor and help feed the hungry.

The tax collectors were local people who worked for the Romans. They were seen as traitors and known to be paid well. So John tells them that they must not make people pay more tax money than what was rightfully due. And no extra cuts on top. No extortion.

He instructed soldiers to not abuse their authority or power. Soldiers at that time would hire themselves out as body guards or to threaten people to get extra money. They worked for whoever paid them the most so were well known to swap sides in a battle. John tells them no more threats by violence and no more bullying. And to be content with their pay.

Notice that John doesn’t tell them to change everything and do a different job. He told them that they should continue their lives, but live them on a new dimension. Basically he is saying that in whatever situation you find yourself live out your life with the sacrificial love of Jesus.

He is in effect using the second tablet of the 10 commandments in teaching people to live with each other in holiness. Because paradoxically this is what brings joy into our hearts. The 10 commandments, like the beatitudes are the instructions that come from God himself that allow us to live a fulfilled and peaceful life. They are the activation code that unlocks our hearts so that the freedom of real life can begin.

So as well as bringing Joy this is how we prepare ourselves for when Jesus is born as a baby in a manger in only a few days now as well as when he returns at the end of time.

We need to take an honest look at our lives. And we need to take an honest look at ourselves. We must try and accept fully the situations we find ourselves in and live them in a new dimension. This helps our relationship with God and each other and starts a transformation process.

Perhaps we have a difficult situation or a specific suffering that we are going through. We must do what we can but then leave the rest to God. Because when we do this we are given what we cannot achieve for ourselves. We receive God’s grace.

In the end our transformation comes more from what God can do for us than what we can ever really do for ourselves. Then by sharing that grace we can be a light to others as we prepare for the light of the world to be born this Christmas.

And it is this that brings a deep and sustained joy into our hearts.