As the Church observes Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent, the liturgy invites the faithful to pause amid preparation and penance and rediscover the deeper meaning of Christian joy. Reflecting on this theme, Fr. Edmund Power highlights how rejoicing in the Lord is not rooted in comfort or ease, but in a living relationship with Christ.
The name Gaudete comes from the opening words of the day’s Entrance Antiphon, drawn from St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord always.” While such an exhortation may seem difficult in a world weighed down by conflict, uncertainty, and suffering, Fr. Power notes that Paul himself wrote these words from prison. His call to joy flowed not from favorable circumstances, but from an unshakable conviction that “to live is Christ.”
Advent, he explains, is the season in which the Church renews its trust in the Lord’s coming not only His birth in history and His return at the end of time, but also His daily coming through grace in the present moment. This awareness transforms joy from a fleeting emotion into a steady spiritual posture grounded in hope.
The Gospel reading for the day presents John the Baptist, imprisoned and searching for reassurance about Jesus’ identity. In response, Christ offers a series of signs that echo the prophecies of Isaiah. These signs, Fr. Power explains, are not merely miracles of the past but living realities that continue to speak to believers today.
When the blind receive sight, it signifies a faith that allows people to see beneath the surface of events and recognize God’s providence at work. The lame walking reflects a renewed journey of faith, no longer hindered by fear or doubt, moving joyfully toward the heavenly Jerusalem. The cleansing of lepers points to the healing of all that causes exclusion, shame, or despair, restoring individuals to communion and dignity.
The deaf hearing symbolizes the moment when God’s word, once distant or unclear, becomes vivid and life-giving. The raising of the dead, Fr. Power notes, connects with St. Paul’s teaching on dying daily to selfishness so as to awaken to new life in Christ. Finally, the proclamation of good news to the poor extends beyond material poverty to include all who are humble enough to recognize their need for God.
Alongside these six signs stands a seventh and challenging beatitude: “Blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” Fr. Power explains that this “offense” or “scandal” ultimately refers to the Cross a stumbling block to some and folly to others, yet central to the Christian mystery of salvation.
Jesus then turns to the crowd with a series of probing questions about their attraction to John the Baptist. Were they drawn to weakness, symbolized by reeds shaken by the wind, or to comfort and status, suggested by fine clothing? John’s mission, Fr. Power emphasizes, was neither fragile nor worldly. His greatness lay in his role as the forerunner, the one who lifted the veil to reveal the face of the coming Messiah.
Yet even John’s unique role fades in comparison to the “everlasting joy” promised to those who fully enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Gaudete Sunday, Fr. Power concludes, reminds believers that true joy is not the absence of suffering, but the presence of Christ a joy that endures, transforms, and leads ultimately to eternal life.