Gaudete Sunday: This Child is our Victory
REJOICE!
The Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete Sunday, the 'pink candle' Sunday, the Sunday
we light the pink candle on the Advent wreath. Gaudete is the imperative plural form of
the Latin verb gaudere (to rejoice). It is a command ordering us to rejoice! In
these days of penance and preparation leading up to the feast of our Savior's birth, it
reminds us of the joy that is to come, and serves, amid this season of penance, as a kind
of 'break' when we recall the hope we have because of the coming of Jesus.
In Advent, we not only celebrate the first coming of our Lord, but eagerly prepare for His
Second Coming as well, when the restoration of all things takes place. Too often many of
us shudder at the thought of our Lord's coming in glory, as if it were a frightening
event—and certainly it will be for those who knowingly rejected Jesus. But for Christians
who persevere it will be our great deliverance from the troubles and trials of this world.
All the world will bend the knee—some in terror—but as for God's friends, they will bend
the knee in joyful adoration as Jesus takes His place as King. The earliest Christians
cried 'Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!' expecting Jesus to come at any moment. So should
we long for His return with our lamps trimmed and our souls ready. It is indeed
something to celebrateand prepare for. Advent turns our hearts and minds to this
reality.
Should commercialism or the evils of the world get us down we need to look at the Advent
wreath with its candles burning down patiently, a new one each week in the spiral they
create, going down as we light the pink one this week which fills us with joy that we are
getting closer and closer to the coming of the Lord. We can place ourselves on the
hillsides with the shepherds in the silent chill with patient anticipation of
they-knew-no- what until the angel told them. We can imagine the three wise men
silhouetted in the brightness of the Christmas star. And then we can meditate on being in
that stable with the smell of straw, animals, and a beautiful Newborn Who is our hope. We
can let our burdens drop away at the foot of the manger when He smiles at us. We can
receive Him into our arms and hearts as Mary holds Him out to us as the gentle Joseph
looks on. This Child is our victory.
REJOICE!
John Mallon is contributing editor for Inside
the Vatican magazine and a member of The Daily Oklahoman's Opinion Board of
Contributors. This article originally appeared in The Sooner
Catholic on December 15, 1996. Send an e-mail
to John Mallon
