The third Sunday of Advent is often referred to as “pink candle” Sunday, and in Latin, Gaudete Sunday indicating rejoicing and joy. The reading from Zephaniah, the Responsorial Psalm, and St, Paul’s words of encouragement, all ring with the tone of rejoicing, singing and gladness. This year as we listen to the news of a seemingly endless pandemic, catastrophic events related to weather, migrants searching for a better future, strained relationships, one might think, “about what could we be rejoicing?” Hearts are broken, lives are fragile, and hope can seem lost.
In the gospel from Luke, we continue to read about the people gathering around John the Baptist, seeking a new way of living, looking perhaps for hope, wondering, asking “what are we to do?” These people had not met Jesus, in fact, they thought that perhaps John was the Messiah, the long-awaited one who would change their lives.
But we have met Jesus. As we ask, what should I do? How am I to be? We need only to remember the two great commandments of love.
““Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.””
St. Paul’s words, “Let your gentleness be known to everyone,” are key words for me as I reflect on today’s scriptures.
We also celebrate today the National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples. This day was established in 2002 by the Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council, with the approval of the Bishops of Canada.
The theme this year is We are called to Healing, Forgiveness, Reconciliation. ” We, the Body of Christ, are called to live in friendship and harmony with all peoples. We are brothers and sisters of our One Creator God. God gives everything to all of us. God creates and sustains the wonderful diversity of peoples, cultures, races and creeds.” (2021 Message of the Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council)
And so, we ask the question posed to John the Baptist, “What should we do?”
Sister Maggie’s view in Hay River, Northwest Territories
In Hay River, Northwest Territories, where I live our days in December are very short. The sun rises in late morning and sets in early afternoon. Often the afterglow from the sun at this time of year is a beautiful mauve to pink texture. As I drove down the highway today, the soft colours reminded me of the gentleness that St. Paul spoke about …Let your gentleness be known to everyone.
Sister Maggie Beaudette, csj