Today’s celebration of the Third Sunday of Advent invites us to rejoice at the rebirth of Jesus in our lives as we prepare for our annual Christmas celebration. Today is called Gaudete Sunday because today’s Mass begins with the opening antiphon: “Gaudete in Domino semper” (“Rejoice in the Lord always”). So, to express our joy in the coming of Jesus as our Savior and into our hearts and lives, we light the rose candle in the Advent wreath, we rededicate ourselves to listening to the Word of the Lord, and we make a renewed commitment to living the Eucharist which we celebrate “every eight days.”
We rejoice at the thought that Jesus is going to be reborn in our lives, deepening in us His gifts of love, mercy, forgiveness, and a spirit of humble service during these Advent and Christmas seasons. Hence, let us joyfully share God’s bountiful grace, forgiveness, and mercy with others. What Jesus commanded St. John’s disciples in Matthew 11, 2-11, He commands us as well: “Go and tell others what you hear and see.” This means that we have to share with others our experience of the rebirth of Jesus within us, the renewed hope He has given us, and the peace He came to establish in our hearts.
