This document summarizes the third Sunday of Advent known as Gaudete Sunday, when Christians are called to rejoice in anticipation of Christ's coming. The readings from Zephaniah, Paul, and Luke encourage rejoicing even in difficult times because God is present with us. A story is shared of a monk learning from a grocer that God's presence can be found in attending to others and their celebration, even amid noise. We are reminded that Christ comes disguised in others around us, and that attentiveness to God and others allows us to experience God's peace.

1. 16 December 2012 Third Sunday of Advent Princeton, NJ
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We gather on this third Sunday of Advent which is also known as Gaudete Sunday. The name is taken
from the Latin word, guadete, which means – rejoice! The vestments with rose colored threads woven
within the advent purple, and the lighting of the third candle which is rose in color – are all visual
reminders for us to rejoice in anticipation of the coming of the Christ Child.
But is this only reason we should be rejoicing? The fact that we are halfway through Advent? Or that
Christmas is only about two weeks away? Or that the watching and waiting is nearing an end?
Nope – not at all. And today’s readings tell us why.
The first reading comes from Zephaniah who was a prophet around 630 BC. He was addressing his
people in the southern kingdom of Judah as they were discouraged and beating themselves up for being
sinners. But this wise prophet recognized that all people sin. So while he warned his people of the
consequence of sin, he did not stop there. So what does Zephaniah say? Seeing his people with heavy
hearts up he told them to shout for joy and rejoice!!
What? I am a sinner and I am supposed to rejoice?
He goes on to say – do not be discouraged! The Lord, your God who is in your midst rejoices, with
gladness, over you…and rejoices over me – sinners! And God renews this joy in us time and time again.
Ok – now that is something to rejoice about.
Well, what about the second reading from Paul. He is writing from prison not knowing if he was going to
die. And he is writing to a community that he has great love for – the Philippians. Because of letters Paul
has received, he knows that the people are worried about him and about all that is going on in their lives.
So Paul drafts them this letter in which he uses the words ‘rejoice’ and ‘joy’ fifteen times. He basically
tells them that life will not always be rosy. Matter of fact life can be hard – real hard. Often we wonder
what could be next? How can I take anymore? Why me? And what does he tell them? Rejoice! Rejoice,
always!
Why? Because God is with you, right now, in every instance. There is no reason for anxiety – just a
willingness to turn around in order to be open to God. And in turn, we are promised that God will offer us
peace which beyond all understanding.
OK – that, too, is something to rejoice about.
Then we heard in Luke’s gospel John the Baptist being asked basically the same question from his
followers as were asked of Zephaniah and of Paul. The people are filled with expectations and are
confused. What are we to do? Where is the Christ? Who is the Christ? And John reassures them that
Christ is one mightier than he. And John then spends his time encouraging the people and sharing with
them the good news of Christ – giving them reason to turn their lives around for God and to rejoice!
In all three readings we hear the angst of the people who are searching for reassurance in the presence
and protection of God. But don’t we all have times in our lives when we feel the same way?
Overwhelmed at home, at work, with the Church, with the world? Actually there are days where we may
all have trouble finding God. Yet we are called to light the rose advent candle and shout, Rejoice. Really?
Recently I came across a parable which reminded me of the need to open my eyes in a different way. It
comes from the book The Solace of Fierce Landscapes by theologian Belden Lane.
1 Deacon Jim Knipper

2. 16 December 2012 Third Sunday of Advent Princeton, NJ
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Long ago a monk, seeking a sign of divine approval for his long years of monastic
devotion, was told by a very wise person that his sanctity was nothing compared to that
of a common grocer in a nearby town. On going to study this man very carefully, the
monk found the grocer occupied with his vegetables amid the noise and hurry of the city
streets, attentive to the needs of all those coming to him. Even as night came on, with the
people growing rowdy, singing loudly in the streets, the grocer stayed at his task, helping
latecomers with their needs.
In exasperation the monk finally blurted out, 'How can you ever pray with noise like this?'
The grocer looked around, feeling compassion for the people that made up his ordinary
life, and answered very simply. 'I tell myself they're all going to the kingdom,' he said.
'They're concentrating with single-minded attention on what they do, singing songs and
rejoicing with all they can muster. See how they prepare for the kingdom of God without
even knowing it! How can I do less myself than to praise in silence the God they
inadvertently celebrate in song?' That night the old monk walked slowly back to his room,
knowing himself to have received — from a grocer, no less — an important lesson in
being attentive to the presence of God. Prayer and the recognition of the face of God
takes place when people grant each other the gift of their attention.
So now do you see the other reason that we shout ‘Rejoice’ today? We do not have to wait till Christmas
to be in the presence of God. We do not have to wonder were God is. We do not have to go out and
search for God. God’s presence has been and is always with us. It is we who tend to forget, tend to look
past the ‘grocers’ in our lives, tend to not pay attention except to our own needs.
Sure, we are all waiting for the coming of the Christ Child, but Christ doesn’t come to us as a papier-
mâché Jesus lying in a manager. Nor does Christ come to us sitting on a thrown and doling out
punishments for our sins.
Rather Christ comes to us disguised as the beggar on the street…disguised as the annoying person in
our checkout line…disguised as the one in your family that drives everyone nuts during the holidays. In
summary, to use my favorite line from Paula D’Arcy – God comes to you and I disguised as our lives.
Indeed, the readings of this Sunday remind us of God’s ever presence in our lives…they remind us to be
attentive to this presence…remind us to be open to God and to others.
And if we do all that, we are promised that the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard
our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.
And that is why, on this third Sunday of Advent, we do, indeed, have good reason to cry out, ‘Rejoice!”
2 Deacon Jim Knipper