NEVER YOU LOSE YOUR JOY

Homily for the Third Sunday of Advent, Year B

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Scripture Passages: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Today is the third Sunday of Advent also known as Gaudete Sunday. It is a day of rejoicing in the midst of Advent’s penitential tone. The liturgy calls us to rejoice, for our salvation is drawing near. Today, as we light the pink candle on our Advent wreath, we are reminded that joy is not a passive emotion but an active response to the anticipation of Christ’s coming. Gaudete Sunday challenges us to rejoice, not because all our problems vanish, but because, in Christ, we find a hope that transcends our present circumstances.

The readings invite us to journey through the corridors of time, connecting the prophecy of Isaiah in the first reading to the proclamation of John the Baptist in the gospel reading. In the first reading, we hear the echoes of the collective cry of a people longing for the dawn of a new era. Isaiah, the prophet, stands as a voice of hope in the midst of the Israelites’ struggles and longing. He proclaimed that the Spirit of the Lord is upon him, foretelling the arrival of a Messiah who will bring good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim liberty to the captives.

For centuries, the people of Israel yearned for the fulfillment of this promise - a Redeemer who would bring liberation and restoration. For years, the Israelites, burdened by the weight of their sins and the hardships of exile, clung to the hope embedded in Isaiah’s words. The yearning for a Savior, a deliverer, echoed through generations. This longing of the Israelites was fulfilled by the prophecy of John the Baptist in today’s gospel reading.

In the Judean wilderness, a voice cries out - a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. John the Baptist is the precursor, the herald preparing the way for the long-awaited Messiah. The people, still carrying the echoes of Isaiah’s words in their hearts, flock to John, wondering if he might be the One they have been waiting for. He points beyond himself to the One who is coming, the Light of the world. The Spirit of the Lord that rested upon Isaiah finds its manifestation in the person of John, the one preparing the way for the Messiah. The message is clear: the Redeemer foretold by the prophets is drawing near. The centuries-long anticipation is reaching its climax.

Like the Israelites, we too yearn for liberation redemption. In a world often marked by war, hunger, violence, bad governance, brokenness, injustice, and sin, our hearts echo the plea for a Savior. Gaudete Sunday urges us to hold on to the hope embedded in Isaiah’s prophecy and see its fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. But while we wait for our liberation and redemption to be accomplished, St. Paul in the second reading urges us to “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.” These words are not a mere suggestion but a profound call to cultivate a spirit of continuous joy, prayer, and gratitude. 

In our waiting, we are called to be like Mary, rejoicing in the Lord, and like John the Baptist, pointing others to the source of true joy. The call to “rejoice always” is an invitation to trust in God’s promises, to find joy in his presence, and to share that joy with others. Gaudete Sunday challenges us to examine our lives and find joy even in challenging circumstances, trusting that God is at work. May the joy of the Lord be our strength, and may it radiate through us to a world waiting for the good news of salvation.