Reflection on Mass readings for Dec. 15 (Third Sunday of Advent)
Zep 3:14-18a
Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6
Phil 4:4-7
Lk 3:10-18
As I sit to write this reflection, my mind is drawn to my recent texts. I see the outgoing message to a dear friend, “I’m just feeling really discouraged today.” And a little earlier: “So exhausted and frustrated with all of humanity. Ugh.”
First, I admit I tend toward the hyperbolic. Second, and far more importantly, the Lord reached into this place of heaviness and drew me to his Word, so he could tell me that I had “no further misfortune to fear” (Zep 3:15). It’s like he’s on the other end of the smartphone, replying, “Do not be discouraged!” (Zep 3:16) and “Have no anxiety at all!” (Phil 4:6).
This response, whether coming from a trusted friend or from the King of the Universe, can often soothe our worries, snapping us back to a place of loving submission to the good will of the Lord. Sometimes, however, it can feel like an unwanted reminder that our feelings are out of sync with our vocation, bringing tension to the surface of an already raw heart.
Depending on where we are mentally, spiritually, and physically, Sunday’s readings can “hit different,” as the kids would say. When we walk into Gaudete Sunday, I would wager some of us aren’t singing “rejoice” in our steps and our souls. We might not even remember what day it is until we see the rose vestments coming down the aisle.
Gaudete! We chide ourselves, “For goodness’ sake, rejoice!”
To that, our readings encourage us, “Actually, for God’s sake, let’s rejoice.”
Why do we not fear misfortune? The prophet Zephaniah tells us, because “The Lord, your God, is in your midst” (Zep 3:17). Why aren’t we discouraged? “A mighty savior… will rejoice over you with gladness” and “will sing joyfully because of you” (Zep 3:17).
We rejoice because he, who is God, is near. We rejoice because he, who is God, rejoices first over us.
He sees our smallest offerings of trust with eyes of unfathomable, unconditional love and sings joy over us. When we rejoice in our Emmanuel this Sunday, we will sing songs heralding his coming, praising his humility, and honoring him as Savior. And it’s all because he first sang “joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals” (Zep 3:17-18).
In this week’s Gospel, John the Baptist captivated and convicted crowds with his call to repentance ahead of the advent of the Messiah. He named evil as he saw it and drew out of people a desire for new hearts and new actions. They looked at him and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?” (Lk 3:12)
Facing the coming of the Lord who draws near to heal, hold, and love us in our anxiety, discouragement, and fear, we, too, wonder how we should prepare the way.
At our parish, a basket sits on the floor of the sanctuary at the base of the altar. During the offertory, many children make their way up the steps to put a few coins or a dollar in the basket, as the adults do the same in their seats. Some might say it’s a distraction to the preparation of the altar, but I look forward to it every week.
There’s the kid who looks over her shoulder the whole way for her parents’ smiling encouragement that it’s OK to continue. Then, there is the little boy who walks up next to his older sibling since he can’t quite balance on one foot as he scales the steps. A little one often tries to take a peek up close to see what the priest is doing.
Then, there is my favorite of all – the kid who takes a moment and looks around at the congregation before he makes his way back to his pew. He savors a glance from the view of the priest, who is about to offer in persona Christi the very body and blood of our Lord to the Father on behalf of us all. And we sing joyfully over the little boy (who is all of us) as at a festival, while he makes his crooked way back to his parents.
To our anxious, exhausted, and often hyperbolically discouraged hearts, our Savior sings, “The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst.” Into our homes, into our darkest corners, and into our very bodies and souls in the Holy Eucharist, the Lord is coming.
And what good news that is. For the very sake of our incredible God, let’s rejoice! Gaudete!
Cate Harmeyer worked 15 years in Catholic education and campus ministry. She and her husband, Dana, now oversee the education of their two daughters. Cate is a Notre Dame football fanatic, sourdough enthusiast, and loves spending time at the beach and in the mountains.