A homily for the Third Sunday of Advent, Dec. 13, 2020
Is 62:1-2A, 10-11, 1 Thes 5:16-24, Jn 1:6-8, 19-28
Once upon a time, there was a brilliant priest who grew up in Dallas, influenced by the spirit and enthusiasm of the Protestant Christian brothers and sisters who lived all around him. The kind of folks who, bless ’em, will gladly drop an “Amen” on you regularly.
He also was possessed of a Texas twang — not really a drawl, not really not — so when he pronounced his Latin … well, let’s just say that Caesar himself would have had a little trouble understanding him.
My priest friend, in particular, liked to greet folks on the Third Sunday of Advent with a hearty and heartfelt “guh-Dowty,” the Lone Star way of saying “Gaudete.”
And ever since he first used that pronunciation around me, I’ve had to turn to the English folk-pop institution Steeleye Span often for a beautiful and blessed reminder of what we’re celebrating this weekend, rose candles and rose vestments and all.
The lyrics, in Latin, and their meaning:
| Gaudete, Gaudete! Christus et natus Ex Maria Virgine, Gaudete! |
Rejoice, Rejoice! Christ is born Of the Virgin Mary, Rejoice! |
| Tempus ad est gratiae, Hoc quod optabamus; Carmina laetitiae, Devote redamus. |
It is now the time of grace That we have desired; Let us sing songs of joy, Let us give devotion. |
| Deus homo factus est, Natura mirante; Mundus renovatus est A Christo regnante. |
God was made man, And nature marvels; The world was renewed By Christ who is King. |
| Ezechiellis porta Clausa pertransitur; Unde lux est orta Salus invenitur. |
The closed gate of Ezechiel Has been passed through; From where the light rises Salvation is found. |
| Ergo nostra cantio, Psallat iam in lustro; Benedicat Domino: Salus Regi nostro. |
Therefore let our assembly now sing, Sing the Psalms to purify us; Let it praise the Lord: Greetings to our King. |
Our Scripture readings this weekend reinforce the continuing Advent theme of preparing the way of the Lord and of being prepared ourselves to meet him every time he comes into our lives. Which he does daily, many times daily, in many ways we recognize and quite a few we don’t.
Yes, Jesus comes to us daily, not only at Christmas. Gaudete!
Jesus comes to us daily in the faces of his least sisters and brothers, for whom Christmas — for whom almost any day in 2020 — may be bleak.
Jesus challenges us to ensure everyone has a reason for joy.
Today’s celebratory tone also reminds us of hope. Not the notion of hope as in “I hope I get a pony for Christmas” (Xbox and PS5 are beyond the bounds of hope), but the true spirit of hope that, mingled with faith and love, promises better days here and in the life yet to come.
Gaudete tells us that things will get better, that life in the flesh and life in the spirit are good and will be great.
As we look to close out a 2020 we would like to forget but know deep down we never will, we have the light of Gaudete’s hope leading us out of darkness.
