THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT - GAUDETE SUNDAY 2020

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

The spirit of the Lord has been given to me.
He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor.  Is 61:1(Lk4:18)

ISAIAH  61:1-2,10-11

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

The same Spirit of the Lord that was Your anointing is ours too, for You pour out Your gifts freely, generously, and abundantly on all God's children who are grafted to You. We also receive the same mission of discipleship given to Your Apostles and all who believe in You, all who are called by Your Name. 

We are to follow You, imitate You, model our lives on Yours as the Father sent You so You send us:

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 favour from the Lord.

We exult with joy in You and our souls also rejoice in You, for 

You have washed us in the waters of baptism and clothed us with garments of salvation - the garments that we must wear if we are to gain admittance to the marriage banquet of the Bridegroom, the Son of God.

The Church You founded, cleansed by Your Blood, fed with Your Body, enlivened by Your Spirit, is the bride adorned with the jewels of virtue. It is this Church that holds within her the fullness of the Eternal Word, she is the garden where the seeds of life and faith are sown to the ends of the earth, raising up new generations of disciples in every land, every nation, culture, and language, singing songs of praise to the God of all the Living, as we wait in joyful anticipation for Your second coming in glory and majesty. Maranatha! Lord Jesus, do not delay.

PSALM -  Luke 1:46-50,53-54

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

Mary's glorious Magnificat teaches us how to recognize God's work in the world and in us and how that knowledge awakens our spirit to offer God true praise, worship, and thanksgiving for all He has done for us. 

We begin by taking our gaze away from ourselves and focusing our whole being on God who is our Creator, our Savior, and our Sanctifier. 

Without humility, we are unable to see ourselves as we are. We are nothing, we have nothing and have nothing to offer except our sins, our frailties, our weaknesses. We offer what is unworthy in exchange for the One who is Worthy.

Any good we possess comes from You, any merit we have is granted to us by You - Mary recognized that it was God who raised her up and placed her above all His creatures. She invites us also to focus on His goodness in choosing her and raising her up. It is He who causes all generations to call her blessed.

Mary, Mother of God, Mother of the Church, Mother of all the living, the New Eve, You, gather all Your children under Your mantle, intercede for us and keep us safe from the wiles of the Enemy - the same one who tempted Eve into disobeying God and whose head You crushed under Your heel with Your unconditional fiat to His will.

Thank You, Mama Mary, for providing God with His Body, the same Body that provides our spiritual food and drink in the Holy Eucharist and strengthens us on our pilgrim journey from this life to the life that is to come. Pray for us that we may always be mindful that without Him we can do nothing.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-24

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

St. Paul reminds us today as we celebrate Gaudete Sunday, that we can be kept safe to the end and rejoice always if we pray constantly and never fail to render thanks for everything that occurs in our lives. This is God's will for us in You. Like Your Mother Mary may we always discern and embrace Your will in all things as this is the key to possessing true joy in all circumstances.

If we are sensitive and obedient to the promptings of the Holy Spirit who gently, quietly, and always speaks to us, guides us, and directs us in all things, we will be able to choose good over our weak, shallow, sinful, inclinations.

As we prepare to celebrate Your birth this Christmas, let us keep in mind Your coming again in glory and majesty. Thank You for all the wonderful spiritual treasures and gifts at our disposal in Your Church, they keep us strong, bold, courageous, and willing witnesses to the Truth to the end. We believe with St. Paul that God has called us in You and He will not fail us.

JOHN 1:6-8,19-28

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

There is one Light, one Truth, one Way, one Life and they are all embodied in You. The patriarchs and the prophets foretold Your coming, the coming of the Messiah, who would redeem His people and set the world free for the glory of God. 

The last of these prophets was John the Baptist, like Elijah he was a voice that cries in the wilderness: 'Make a straight way for the Lord.’ Advent is a reminder to us to be prepared for the Second Coming.

John focused on his mission to prepare the way for You, with single-minded devotion, can we make the same claim about ourselves? I am called to be Your witness with every breath I breathe to my last breath so everyone I encounter can come to know and believe that no one can enter the gates of heaven unless they come through You.

John cared nothing for the good opinion of people, he was not intimidated by the religious authorities, he was unafraid to speak the truth even to Herod and Herodias who had the power to kill him and they eventually did. He was not pretentious and did lay claim to being someone he knew he was not. When questioned, he said plainly I am not the Christ, I am not Elijah, and I am not a prophet.

He saw himself as unworthy even to untie the straps of Your sandals. Humility is the key to being an effective witness in God's Kingdom, both Mary and John the Baptist teach us how 

intrinsic this virtue is if we desire to please God.

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Yours. Amen.

    OUR LADY OF JOY - GAUDETE SUNDAY