3rd Sunday of Advent (B) 17 Dec 2023 Gaudete Sunday
We hear of people who have won the lottery but do not know it, and everyone is trying to work out who it is.
We could say such a person is in a happy state but does not know it.
We could say the same thing for the human race, only that we have done better than win the lottery by receiving the offer of salvation. Many do not know it; they do not know that God is their Creator and Saviour who is offering them daily help in this life, and then a glorious future life.
Too good to be true, perhaps? But it is true anyway.
Only a few can win the lottery but everyone can win eternal life.
Perhaps hardened by so much disappointment many cannot bring themselves to trust in such a happy prospect.
In this life we know so much and so many kinds of suffering that indeed it is easy to sink into a blend of cynicism and scepticism
God knows we find it hard so He keeps telling us how well-disposed to us He is. He encourages us to approach Him and place our needs before Him.
It is normally easy to tell someone good news. The one who receives the news is grateful and all is well.
In our case it is not so simple. We tell the good news to people that they can be saved and they might react angrily, or in any case simply refuse to believe.
It is complicated because our offer of good tidings requires a response which will include giving up of false gods, sinful ways – and this can be painful.
So it comes to this: receive the Good News which is free and forever. The only bit of small print is that you will need to live a regular life, keeping the commandments, loving one’s neighbour etc.
Some will refuse on the basis of that small print, but really we are streets ahead in terms of happiness if we go with God's offer.
We are accepting what He asks of us and what He offers by being here today. Our response may not be as complete as it needs to be but we are at least on the way.
Today is Gaudete Sunday, a day to take stock of where we stand with God and how happy we can be if we accept His terms.
The second reading tells to be happy at all times.
How can we be happy when so much is wrong with the world, and all of us could probably produce a list of things not to be happy about.
Well, we can be happy and sad at the same time.
An image that may help is that of a pool of water. The surface of the water can be turbulent, but deeper down the water is still.
We deal with turbulence in our lives, but we do not say that all of life turbulent.
Deep down we
are calm, because joined to Jesus Himself, and He has the answers for every
problem.
Psalm 1: we draw on His grace like a tree does from water.
So the reading goes on to say that we should give thanks to God for all things.
We are giving thanks not so much for the ‘things’ but for Christ who manages all things.
We regularly express our trust in Him to bring all things around to where they need to be.
Having Him on our side how can we not be happy?
He helps us, not necessarily removing all our troubles, but helping us to come through them in the best possible way.
This will include that we see our sins in a new light and are therefore able to change our attitudes or behaviour without regret. Even the sacrifices asked of us start to seem very small along side of the joy which is available to us.
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