The Third Week of Advent

Joy and Evangelization

The Joy of the Gospel

About halfway through the penitential season of Advent, the Church reminds us of the coming joy of the Lord's arrival on Gaudete Sunday. This Sunday's title comes from the first Latin word of the entrance antiphon: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near" (Philippians 4:4-5). The first reading for Mass expands upon this theme:
"Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!
        Sing joyfully, O Israel!
    Be glad and exult with all your heart,
        O daughter Jerusalem!
    The LORD has removed the judgment against you
        he has turned away your enemies;
    the King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst,
        you have no further misfortune to fear.
    On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:
        Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!
    The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
        a mighty savior;
    he will rejoice over you with gladness,
        and renew you in his love,
    he will sing joyfully because of you,
        as one sings at festivals."
— Zephaniah 3:14-18a
The prophet Zephaniah gives us several reasons to rejoice: the Lord has forgiven our sins, saved us from our enemies, and has come among us. Pope Francis says something similar in his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel):
"The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ, joy is constantly born anew."
As we've said before, this news is too good to keep to ourselves! We are all called to preach the gospel in our daily lives so that others can enter into this joy. Also in The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis urges all members of the Church to "embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy." If we allow the joy of the gospel to fill our hearts, it will overflow in our words and actions, catching the attention of those around us.

Embracing Joy During Advent

So how can we embrace the joy of the gospel during Advent, answering the call of Pope Francis and the Walk With One initiative? Here are just two ways:
  • Meditate on the O Antiphons, which are sung during Evening Prayer in the week before Christmas Day. Each one highlights a different aspect of the salvation Christ brings. Praying them can increase our joyful longing for the Lord and desire to share him with others.
  • Seek out God's forgiveness in the Sacrament of Confession. When we regularly experience the joy of the Lord's love and mercy firsthand, it's much easier to share it with others! Confession is also a great way to prepare for the holy days of Christmas Time.
Grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting this campaign of Christian service, so that, as we take up battle against spiritual evils, we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint.

This collect prayer begins the Mass for Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Jesus is calling us to "take up battle against spiritual evils." We'll explore fasting itself in a few weeks; during the week of Ash Wednesday, we're going to dig into an important set of weapons the Lord gives us to fight evil: sacramentals.

What's a sacramental? Well, if you attend Mass on Ash Wednesday, you're probably going to receive one on your forehead.

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