Gaudete Sunday (Third Sunday of Advent) - 12 December

Gaudete Sunday (Third Sunday of Advent) - 12 December

The third candle of Advent symbolises Joy and is called the “Shepherd’s Candle”. To the shepherd’s great joy, the angels announced that Jesus came for humble, unimportant people like them too. In liturgy, the colour rose signifies rejoicing. This candle reminds us that Jesus’ coming is near.

Reflection

A short reflection on this Sunday's gospel reading by the Venerable Archbishop Fulton J Sheen:

"Even before he [John] met the Messiah, Who was his own cousin, he announced the superiority of Christ. 'Someone is coming, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals.'

"John considered himself unworthy to untie the shoes of Our Lord, but Our Lord would surpass him in humility as He would wash the feet of the Apostles. The greatness of John consisted in the fact that to him was given the privilege of running before the chariot of the King and saying, 'Christ has come.'

"John used symbols as well as words. The chief symbol of the washing away of sin was a cleansing by water. John had been baptising in the Jordan, as a token of repentance, but he knew that his baptism did not regenerate or quicken the dead soul. That is why he made a contrast between his baptism and the baptism that later on Christ Himself would confer; speaking of the latter, he said: 'He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire.'"

An Advent Prayer

God of hope, who brought love into this world,be the love that dwells between us.

God of hope, who brought peace into this world, be the peace that dwells between us.

God of hope, who brought joy into this world, be the joy that dwells between us.

God of hope, the rock we stand upon, be the centre, the focus of our lives always and particularly this Advent time.

Through Him who is our hope, our joy, our love, our peace in union with the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen. 🙏💖🌟