Mass Readings
Reading 1 – Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11
Psalm – Lk 1:46-50,53-54
Reading 2 – St Paul to Thess 5:16-24
Gospel – John 1:6-8, 19-28
Gospel Reflection
Fr Shymon Thekkekalathungal, Assistant Priest
One day a pastor was preparing pancakes for her young sons. As all other kids the boys started to argue each other about who would get the first Pancake. When the mum noticed it, as all other mums she took that opportunity to teach them a moral lesson. She said, my dear children, do you know if child Jesus were sitting here, he would say, “Let my brother have the first pancake... I can wait. Then the younger boy turned to his brother and said, “You be Jesus,” Ok?
Finding Jesus in life is the greatest joy of a Christian. He brings joy to our lives. The shepherds and Magi were so excited and rejoiced when they found Jesus at Bethlehem. They carried that joy as they returned back to their home. This sort of joy brings to one’s entire life once they meet Christ. This is the celebration of a Christian’s life. A journey of a Christian life is finding Jesus and joyfully journey with him.
This Sunday is called “Gaudete Sunday” or “Rejoice Sunday” which reminds us to “rejoice in the Lord always”. The readings for this Sunday of Advent back up this message that the past, present and the future coming of Jesus is the reason for our rejoicing. The first reading tells us that we should rejoice because the promised messiah is coming as our saviour by liberatingus from our bondages. The psalm of the day is taken from Mary's “Magnificat,” in which she exclaims: "My soul rejoices in my God, my spirit finds joy in God my saviour." St. Paul in the second reading advises us to “rejoice always” by leading a blameless, holy and thankful life guided by the Holy Spirit because Christ is faithful in his promise that he will come again to reward us. The Gospel today tells us that John the Baptist came as a witness to testify to the light, that is, Jesus, and the coming of Jesus the light into the world is cause for rejoicing as he removes darkness from the world. We should be glad andrejoicing also because, like John the Baptist, we too are chosen to witness to Christ Jesus, the light of the world, by reflecting his light in our lives so that we may illuminate the dark lives of others and share the joy around us especially during this pandemic.