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The Third Sunday
of
Advent |
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Rejoice! |
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The rose candle is lit the third Sunday of
Advent, for this color anticipates and
symbolizes the Christmas joy announced in the
first word of the Entrance Antiphon: "Rejoice"
(Latin, Gaudete). For this reason the Third
Sunday is also called Gaudete Sunday, and rose
color vestments are permitted.
“Advent” comes from the Latin word for
"arrival" or "coming" and is a period of
preparation for the birth of our Lord. It
begins four Sundays before Christmas and
signals the start of the Christmas season,
which, for Catholics, lasts through the
Baptism of Our Lord.
Advent is a time of joyous anticipation, but
also of penance and preparation for the great
Christmas feast. The liturgical color of the
season is purple, a sign of penance, which is
also used during Lent. The Church discourages
excessive ornamentation, |
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boisterous music and even weddings during
Advent, in order to foster a sense of quiet
hope.
The first Sunday of Advent also marks the
beginning of the liturgical year, the Church's
"New Year's Day," at
which time we change the cycle of readings we are
using at Mass.
The Advent Wreath originated from a pre-Christian
tradition of Germany and Scandinavia where the
people gathered to celebrate the return of the sun
after the winter solstice. The circular wreath
made of evergreens interspersed with four candles
represented the circle of the year and the life
that endures through the winter. As the days grew
longer, people lit candles to offer thanks to the
"sun god" for the light.
For Catholics the wreath represents God's
eternity. The purple candles symbolize faithful
expectation, joy and hope. In earlier times the
season of Advent had stronger penitential and
ascetic aspects, and a relaxation of disciplines
was offered on the third Sunday of Advent, also
called Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin for
"rejoice", the first words of the Introit.
The first candle is often called the prophet's
candle, and is meant to signify the hope of Jesus'
arrival. The second is generally called the
Bethlehem candle, reminding Christians that God
appeared to them in a humble manner; Bethlehem was
located in the territory of one of the least
powerful tribes of Israel. The third candle is the
shepherds' candle, representing the joy that more
than half of Advent is over. The final candle is
the angels' candle, symbolizing their peace and
the message of good news that they offer.
On the first Sunday of Advent, the wreath is
sprinkled with holy water and blessed before
lighting the first purple candle.
The second candle of the Advent
Wreath is generally called the Bethlehem
candle, reminding Christians that God appeared
to them in a humble manner; Bethlehem was
located in the territory of one of the least
powerful tribes of Israel. |
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This week's Readings:
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This is from the
St. Vincent de Paul website, on the Gospel
of
Mt 11:2-11, for
The Third Sunday of
Advent |
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Reflection:
Jesus, in answering John’s question gives a most
startling answer. He recounts an alternative world
vision that is actually taking place because of
his ministry: “the blind regain their sight, the
lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the
dead are raised, and the poor have the good news
proclaimed to them.” In other words, he is saying
“Don’t take my word for it that I am who you are
looking for. Look at what I’ve accomplished!
The good news can be
seen and touched and felt and heard in the lives
of people.” This is why doubts can be appeased and
all can know that Jesus is, indeed, “the one who
is to come.”We are now charged to take up Jesus’
ministry. We can’t ask people to take our word for
it; our actions speak for us—or our non-actions.
Either we take up Jesus’ ministry or we don’t.
(Living Liturgy, p. 14)
Vincentian Meditation:
John the Baptist makes it very clear that we will
live genuinely for Christ only if we are willing
to die for him. Only the person who is practiced
in the art of daily dying will be able to hand
themselves over to God in an act of final
resignation, as John the Baptist did. Daily dying
consists in pouring out one’s energies in the
service of the poor, in listening attentively, in
praying faithfully, in living harmoniously with
others, in seeking reconciliation, in doing
penance, in renouncing anything that is an
obstacle to following Christ. John the Baptist
calls us to prepare the way of the Lord by
eliminating from our lives whatever impedes his
coming.
(Robert P. Maloney, Seasons in Spirituality: Reflections on Vincentian Spirituality in Today's World , p.48) |
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The Sunday Readings
“Amen, I say to you,
among those born of women there has been none
greater than John the Baptist; yet the least
in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” |
December 16,
2007:
The
Second Sunday of Advent
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First Reading From
the Book of Isaiah: |
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Is 35:1-6a, 10 |
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The desert and the
parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice
and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers,
and rejoice with joyful song.
The glory of Lebanon
will be given to them, the splendor of Carmel and
Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the
splendor of our God.
Strengthen the
hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that
are weak, say to those whose hearts are
frightened:
Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with
divine recompense he comes to save you.
Then will the
eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf
be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag,
then the tongue of the mute will sing.
Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return and
enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy;
they will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and
mourning will flee. |
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Responsorial From the Book of Psalms:
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Ps 146:6-7, 8-9,
9-10 |
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R. Lord, come and
save us.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD God keeps
faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Lord, come and save us.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD gives sight
to the blind;
the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just;
the LORD protects strangers.
R. Lord, come and save us.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The fatherless and
the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations.
R. Lord, come and save us.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Second Reading from the Letter
James |
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Jas 5:7-10 |
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Be patient, brothers
and sisters, until the coming of the Lord.
See how the farmer
waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being
patient with it until it receives the early and
the late rains.
You too must be
patient.
Make your hearts
firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Do not complain,
brothers and sisters, about one another, that you
may not be judged.
Behold, the Judge
is standing before the gates.
Take as an
example of hardship and patience, brothers and
sisters, the prophets who spoke in the name of the
Lord. |
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Reading From
the Gospel of Matthew:
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Mt 11:2-11 |
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When John the
Baptist heard in prison of the works of the
Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this
question,
“Are you the one who is to come, or should we look
for another?”
Jesus said to them
in reply,
“Go and tell John what you hear and see:
the blind regain their sight, the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are
raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed
to them.
And blessed is
the one who takes no offense at me.”
As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to
the crowds about John,
“What did you go out to the desert to see?
A reed swayed by the wind?
Then what did you go out to see?
Someone dressed in fine clothing?
Those who wear
fine clothing are in royal palaces.
Then
why did you go out? To see a prophet?
Yes, I tell you,
and more than a prophet.
This is the one
about whom it is written:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he
will prepare your way before you.
Amen, I say to
you, among those born of women there has been none
greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in
the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” |
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References |
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Straight Answers, Answers to 100 Questions about
the Catholic Faith by Ph.D Rev. William P.
Saunders (Author)
Review by:
Reverend William G. Curlin Bishop of Charlotte
Straight Answers offers Catholics a simple and
direct response to the many questions concerning
the Catholic Church. It spells out profound
truths in very |
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simple language for all who seek a better
understanding of their Faith. I highly recommend
it for Catholics, both young and old. |
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The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way
From Amazon:
After years of spiritual study and reflection,
inspirational speaker and |
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bestselling
author Wayne Dyer has emerged a highly esteemed
teacher. His current message about tapping into
the power of intention may sound like good old
positive thinking: just stay focused on what you
want, rather than focusing on the lack of having
what you want. But the teaching here goes deeper
than just controlling thoughts (although he does
acknowledge that thought control is a
surprisingly challenging and significant
endeavor).
This book might
help readers land a better job, but it's more
relevant for those who are ready to detach from
an ego-driven life filled with quick fixes of
happiness and step into a more authentic,
joyful, and spiritually fulfilling life. His
core teachings speak to tapping into a universal
source of energy that can also be called the
"power of intention." |
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The Chariot of Israel: Exploits of the Prophet of Elijah
THE CHARIOT OF ISRAEL: When Elijah was caught up
to heaven, his disciple Elisha cried out, "the
chariot of Israel, and its horsemen." Elisha was
referring not to the chariot but to the prophet.
This study of Elijah’s life will captivate you
as it walks you through a pivotal period in
Israel’s history, and illustrative maps will
give you a better picture of the physical
geography of this ancient land. |
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Read more about the Liturgical Year |
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The Origins of the Liturgical Year (Pueblo
Books)
by
Thomas J. Talley (Author) The Rev. Dr.
Thomas J. Talley, Professor of Liturgics
at the General Theological Seminary in New
York, is one of the leading liturgists in
the country. He gives us a fresh
examination of the complex history of the
Liturgical Year. |
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The Cultural World of Jesus: Sunday by Sunday, Cycle C. (Bestseller! the Cultural World of Jesus: Sunday by Sunday)
by
John J. Pilch (Author)
Reader
Review: The book by Pilch provides
those who not only fill the pulpits across
this country but also all interested in
the cultural world in which Jesus lived
with a lot of pertinent information that
sheds light on a lot of areas that have
been "muddled" in the past. Yes, I highly
recommend this book. - James Mauldin |
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Learn more and read the Old Testament. |
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Preaching from the Old Testament
by Elizabeth Achtemeier (Author) Reader
Review: The author of these
thirty-two short chapters begins and ends
with the assumption that problems we
experience with the Old Testament are our
problem, not the Bible's. This
subordinating of the Bible reader to the
well-weathered book he holds in his hand
opens doors, not to forced harmonisations
of problematic passages, but to fresh
reappraisal of difficult texts on their
own terms. -
David A. Baer |
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The Navarre Bible: Pentateuch (The Navarre Bible: Old Testament)
This volume helps you make the first five
books of the Old Testament a vital part of
your spiritual reading and practical
growth in the Christian life. It contains
the full English and Latin texts of these
books, along with extensive and faithfully
Catholic commentaries. Like other volumes
in the world-renowned Navarre Bible
series, these commentaries draw on Church
documents, the exegesis of Fathers and
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Doctors of the Church, and the works of contemporary
spiritual writers — particularly St. Josemaría
Escrivá, who initiated the Navarre Bible
project. |
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Comments and
Suggestions are Most Welcome.
If you have any
comments or contributions, please
use the form in this link.
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For Your Laugh Lines
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Recipes |
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Fish with
Tomato and Pine Nuts |
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Comments and Suggestions are Most Welcome.
If you have any comments or contributions,
please
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Copyright
© 2006. My Catholic Tradition. All rights reserved |
Dear Friends:
Please visit us by
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Rey
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This
volume of commentary on the New English Bible text of the First Book of Kings
follows the pattern of the now well-established series on the Old and New
Testaments. The main divisions of the text are those provided by the New English
Bible itself, but these are further subdivided for the purposes of the
commentary, which is printed in short sections following the relevant portion of
the text.
