Reflection for 3rd Sunday of Advent - December 13, 2020

“Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus… May the God of peace make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ….” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24)

This second reading from today’s Mass, along with the entrance antiphon taken from this same scripture passage, is where the term ‘Gaudete Sunday’ comes from. On this Sunday, the liturgical color can be changed to rose from the Advent purple. Rose, while in the same color family of purple, indicates a more hopeful and joyous turn to the season – we are halfway through the period of waiting, watchfulness and expectation for Christ’s coming. We once again hear about John the Baptist is this weekend’s gospel – ‘I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord’” (John 1:23)

Our first song during Communion echoes the theme of John the Baptist. It’s the last weekend that we will hear of his proclamation of One coming after Him. We are getting closer to the end of our period of waiting and preparing. Are you ready? Are you rejoicing always? Are you praying without ceasing?

Some history on the old familiar Advent hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” which is our second Communion song this weekend: This hymn is originally taken from a Chant mode established in France in the 15th century. The text is based off from the ‘O Antiphons’ that begin on December 17, (this coming Thursday) at Vespers (Evening Prayer) during the Office Hours, thus why it is usually sung near the end of Advent — (The text comes from Cologne, Germany – that’s the Cathedral that has the remains of the 3 Kings inside at the back.) These antiphons are recited prior to the Magnificat and refer to various titles of Jesus from scripture:

December 17: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
December 18: O Adonai (O Lord)
December 19: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
December 20: O Clavis David (O Key of David)
December 21: O Oriens (O Dayspring)
December 22: O Rex Gentium (O King of the nations)
December 23: O Emmanuel (O With Us is God)