“Rejoice!”

That is what we are asked to do today,
To remember to rejoice.

Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent,
Called Gaudete, which is a word that means rejoice.
And that is why the candle today on the wreath is pink.

It is a reminder that even in our time of waiting,
There is joy because the Lord is near.

And that is why we hear in the first reading today,
From Zephaniah, he tells God’s people:
“Shout for joy because the Lord, your God, is in your midst.”

And that is the heart of Advent.
Not just waiting for God to come at Christmas,
But realizing that God is already here with us.

Here at Mercy Home, as well as in our own homes,
In our school communities, in our workplace,
The presence of God is seen in these small moments.

It’s a word of encouragement given,
A shared laugh, a helping hand.

It’s in those small moments that we can recognize
That God is here right now in our midst.

Paul, in his Letter to the Philippians, says,
“Rejoice in the Lord always.
The Lord is nearby.”

He says, “Have no anxiety at all.”

Now remember, Paul wrote this letter from prison,
And yet he still rejoices.
How could that be? Why?

Well, Paul knows that real joy
Isn’t about everything being perfect.
It’s about trusting that God is close,
Even when life feels uncertain.

How many of us need to remember that message today?

Finally, the Gospel tells us that people ask
John the Baptist, “What should we do?”
And his answer is simple.

He says, “Share what you have.
Be fair and be honest,
Because the joy of knowing Christ leads to action.”

Advent joy isn’t just a feeling.
It’s a way of living that makes God’s love visible today.

So as we have lit the third candle,
The rose candle on the Advent wreath today,
Remember three things.

God is already with us in this time we have together at Mass.

Secondly, remember we can choose joy.
Even in the midst of hard times, we can choose joy
By trusting that God’s peace is greater than any of our worry.

And thirdly, remember that the joy we speak about today
That comes from the Scriptures
Is a joy that moves us to action, to kindness,
To compassion, to respect, to forgiveness,
To care for one another.

Friends, as we move closer to Christmas,

May this joy grow deeper, not because everything is easy,
But because God is faithful and God is near.

This week, in some way that works for you,
Try to bring joy to one person.
Maybe it’s through a call of encouragement,
Or maybe it’s some kind word or a smile,
Or a compliment to someone,
Maybe someone especially that you don’t particularly care for.

Now these things may seem like they’re not big deals,
Like they’re not much, but in doing these simple things,
It gives flesh to the meaning of Advent joy.

God is with us.

How will you give flesh to the meaning of Advent joy,
Reminding others God is already with us.