Reflection for the third Sunday of Advent

A reflection for the third Sunday of Advent
by Ted Steiner, Director of Mission and Ministry at Jennings

This third Sunday of Advent is called “Gaudete Sunday” which means the Sunday of Rejoicing. While Advent has a tone of waiting, longing and sometimes heaviness, on the third week of Advent, we are reminded to rejoice. Why? Because we are getting close to a new light dawning. God is near!

Sometimes when we look around at the world - things can look bleak. The reading from Isaiah this Sunday talks about the image of a desert where it seems that everything is dry and lifeless. But Isaiah reminds us that just below the surface there is life that is about to bloom. The desert is a place on the edge of becoming something new. God is about to make it happen. Flowers are going to spring up, those who are silent will sing, those who are deaf will hear, and those who are blind will see!

But is God going to do all of this without any help from us? I don’t think so. This Sunday’s readings also focus on John the Baptist who says, ““I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’” John is out there in that dry desert saying, “Prepare the way for God to work!”

And how should we prepare? Perhaps this Advent, it means setting aside discouragement and cultivating hope in our hearts. It means creating room for God to work in us so we can become instruments of God’s healing. It means clearing away the obstacles and stubbornness that hinder God from restoring sight, opening ears and bringing new life where we least expect it.

God wants to bring new life to the world. This Advent, how are we preparing the way?