Scripture Reflections for the Third Sunday of Advent

“I rejoice because through all the struggle, the uncertainty, the pain, and yes, the anxiety, I rejoice because it was through all this that God brought me closer to Him, where He revealed Himself to me”

“And so in every aspect of our lives, we must constantly be seeking God’s will, and striving to see things from another perspective”

"Friends, on this Gaudete Sunday, we are called to rejoice! Detach yourself from the anxieties of the world and live in the peace and joy of Christ."

“The peace and rejoicing we are called to this Advent is not a callous merriment that avoids the reality of suffering, but a divine peace that surpasses our understanding. It is a peace that is cultivated by our taking a first step, responding to God’s call to “prepare the way.””

“The grace unleashed by Our Lord’s sacrifice perfected our moral life, it elevated our nature, and it made possible eternal life with God”

“Our cities, our countries, our world is plagued by the violence of poverty and John the Baptist’s ethical preaching in Sunday’s Gospel shows us another way, one with salvific promise”

“We rejoice because of who we are in Jesus Christ...For Jesus comes to establish a new relationship between us and God”

“baptism is much more than a sign of repentance, much more even that a simple forgiveness of sins...the love of God is poured into our hearts.”

“can we find the time and inclination to ask Jesus, “What must I do?” by way of a spiritual preparation for his coming into our lives, of our coming into the life of the Kingdom of Jesus?”

"Our Gospel for this third Sunday of Advent is of extraordinary importance, for it speaks to us of the transformation, the transfiguration of the self, which is unique to Christianity...."

"Our Gospel for today centers around a question that is bracing in its directness and simplicity. A group of people come to the Baptist and ask “what should we do?”..."

“Many Advent/Christmas texts have nuptial themes, because the incarnation of Christ is the “wedding” of two natures, human and divine. God weds his nature to ours in Christ.”

“metanoia is a lifetime process. It is the process by which we are divinized–by which we change by change by change come to be like God in our capacity for Truth, Compassion, Fidelity, and relationship”

“More than simply preparing us for Christmas, though, Advent also reminds us of the in-between situation we find ourselves in, after Christ’s first coming but awaiting his second coming”

“Without Christ we cannot enter into the joy which is the crowning of our salvation”

“The joy of a Christian must be an authentic joy, a joy that goes all the way down — all the way down to the depths of sadness, indeed”

“Peace and healing can come from the eucharist, friendship can grow between us, people can come to a sense of their worth and Chistian dignity”

"Trish is a retired teacher and educational leader who worked in Catholic Education in Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia and Tasmania. She has a lively interest in justice, peace..."

"The third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called Gaudete Sunday, Rejoice! Sunday. God is a community of joy and the purpose of creation and redemption is to share that joy...."