Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, obviously, if there is a meal).
Gathering Time (5-10 minutes).
Not many may know that the third Sunday of Advent is also known as Gaudete Sunday in Western Christianity, though most may recognize the interruption of “pink” for “joy” in the order of Advent candles. Over a decade ago, Marie Kondo became an international cultural icon with her “KonMari Method” of tidying and her trademark advice, “Choose what sparks joy!” Invite participants to share the ways in which they might have tried out some version of that method in their own personal or professional lives—including ways in which the effort may have “flopped” for them.
Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). Read Zephaniah 3:14-20; Luke 3:7-18.
- What does “joy” mean for you? [For example, good health; family and friends; inner confidence and peace; gratitude for all that we have; anything that helps us to look forward to the future]
- In what aspects of our personal and professional lives is “joy” a key criterion for determining what we will choose to hang on or let go? [e.g., in committed relationships; in professional interactions; in where we choose to live and work]
- A successful CEO suggests that it is a mistake to assume that “joy” or “happiness” is the condition for achieving professional success; in his view, there is a difference between “doing what you love” and “doing what makes you happy.” What do you think?
- Isaiah 12:3 is a beautiful verse, “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (NRSV). The CEB translates it as “springs of salvation.” It is luscious imagery that invites us to consider how “salvation” harmonizes humans with the earthly elements around us. What does this imagery evoke for you regarding the experience of “joy”? When have you experienced that kind of “joy” in your life? [For example, deep joy is more than momentary happiness; joy springs from within one’s inner resiliency, whereas happiness may be contingent upon external conditions. Like a wellspring, joy can be a rush of soothing, nourishing waters. We often spend more time on momentary happiness rather than looking into replenishing the deeper sources of our joy.]
- The Preaching Notes draw our attention to the daunting beginning of our Gospel reading for this week—John’s famous exclamation, “You brood of vipers!” (Lk. 3:7) As it turns out, this impassioned preaching convicts the crowds, and they ask, “What then should we do?” (v. 10). Luke’s account indicates that John has responses to three different groups: the crowd (v. 11), the tax collectors (v. 13), and the soldiers (v. 14). What do you make of John’s exhortations? [New Testament commentaries remind us that “coats” in verse 11 refer to “tunics” worn close to the body; John is directing people toward acts of deep communal sharing. As for the tax collectors and soldiers, the imperative is that they do not misuse their power and exploit the people for their own advantage. Essentially, they are challenged to act against the very socio-political systems that are set up to serve the interests of the few at the expense of the people. As the Discipleship Study Bible notes suggest, acts of faith and repentance are deeply interpersonal, social, and public. “Salvation” is a collective endeavor and a communal experience. It is more radical than doing things that give us personal, private joy.]
- What might John the Baptist’s exhortation be to you today? What acts of repentance are required of us, so that all may experience the refreshing springs of salvation? [Note how we are sometimes quicker to assume that other people need repentance, not us.]
Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.
Sending Forth (2 minutes). End with the following prayer, a similar prayer, or the Lord’s Prayer. (You may consider substituting the plural pronouns “we” and “us.”)
I lift up my eyes.
What do I see?
The great divide…
bond and free.
Exploited and exploiting,
displaced and established,
the powerful and the powerless,
entangled and fragile!
Let my spirit be lifted Lord,
let my soul behold your beauty,
the bounty of your resources,
the over-flowing of your unfailing love.
Let me know they are mine too,
Lord, let me hope.
Source:
“Crossroads and Constant Spring,” 299. In Liturgies from Below: Praying with People at the Ends of the World, edited by Cláudio Carvalhaes, 299. Nashville: Abingdon, 2020.
Mai-Anh Le Tran is associate professor of religious education and practical theology at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. An ordained elder of the California-Nevada Annual Conference, she regularly contributes to the ministries of local churches, districts, conferences, and denominational agencies. She is the author of Reset the Heart: Unlearning Violence, Relearning Hope(Abingdon, 2017).
FAQs
It is called the “Shepard's Candle,” and is pink because rose is a liturgical color for joy. The third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete Sunday and is meant to remind us of the joy that the world experienced at the birth of Jesus, as well as the joy that the faithful have reached the midpoint of Advent.
What are the readings for the third Sunday of Advent Year C? ›
Mass Readings for the 3rd Sunday of Advent Year C
First Reading – Zephaniah 3:14-18A: God has removed your punishment and is with you, bringing joy and renewal. Rejoice and do not fear, for He delights in you. Responsorial Psalm – Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6: God is my savior, giving me confidence and strength.
What is the lesson of the third week of Advent? ›
The third week of Advent is Joy. This verse is from the story of Jesus' birth. The angels appeared to the shepherds in the fields nearby to announce that a baby has been born in a manger. The angels describe Jesus' birth as “good news of great joy” because he came to be our Savior!
What is the focus of the third week of Advent? ›
This third week focuses our intention on joy. Joy is a very real and deep happiness that is rooted in faith and trust. In this third week of Advent, we pause and reflect on the first half of the season, as well as look ahead to the last weeks.
What happens at the third stage of Advent? ›
The third Sunday in Advent often has a focus on Joy. Because it is closest to the longest night (December 21) of the year, and the start of the Great Antiphons (December 17), there are many opportunities for worship this week.
Why do we rejoice on the third Sunday of Advent? ›
As we wait for the coming of Christ, we light a cheerful rose-colored candle on the Advent wreath as a reminder that our waiting will not be in vain. The Sunday gets its name -- "gaudete," which means "rejoice" -- from the introit to the day's liturgy: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice."
What are the homilies for the third Sunday of Advent Year A? ›
We rejoice in knowing that Jesus is the Messiah. He saves us from our sins and gives us eternal life in heaven with him. We can share our joy with others by being helpful and kind to others, just as Jesus was. Pray: God, we rejoice and thank you for salvation through your Son, Jesus Christ.
What is the psalm for the third Sunday of Advent? ›
Responsorial Psalm
(Is 61:10b) My soul rejoices in my God. My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked upon his lowly servant.
What is the prayer for the third Sunday of Advent joy? ›
OPENING PRAYER: O God, As we faithfully await the birth of your son, Jesus, Let us be glad and rejoice. In our families and our schools and in our lives, Help us to share the joy of Christ's love with others. Amen.
What is the third Sunday of Advent joy sermon? ›
The third week of Advent is a time of joy, a time of being thankful for all that has been given—the promise of the Savior who has come, who is present, and who promises a return. The third Sunday of Advent is a day for celebration. Peel away the penitential mood that Advent brings, and rejoice in the Lord always.
Rejoicing. "(The desert) will bloom with abundant flowers and rejoice with joyful song." "Rejoice in the Lord always!" "Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!" The Scriptures for the Third Sunday of Advent proclaim their message in no uncertain terms: Rejoice!
What is the message of week 3 of Advent? ›
This third week of Advent, let us remember that the good news of Jesus' birth has the power to bring us great joy this Christmas season. Our joy isn't dependent on what is going on in our life, in our world, or the people that we are with. It doesn't depend on the gifts we give or the gifts we find under the tree.
What does the third Sunday of Advent represent? ›
The third Sunday in Advent (Advent III) focuses our hearts on rejoicing at the arrival of God's kingdom with the coming of Jesus. The third Sunday in Advent (Advent III) shifts from a tone of expectation of Christ's coming to one of rejoicing at the arrival of God's kingdom with the coming of Jesus.
How do you celebrate the third Sunday of Advent? ›
On this Gaudete (“Rejoice!”) Sunday, reflect on what you are thankful for. This week, write down things in your life that cause you to rejoice. Then, thank God for those blessings. True joy ultimately comes through following God's will for our lives.
What is the benediction for the third Sunday of Advent? ›
BENEDICTION. People of God, we wait with hope; we wait with courage; we wait with joy unspeakable, full of glory; we wait with the assurance that The Liberator will come in power, in justice, and in peace.
What does Gaudete Sunday symbolize? ›
The word “Gaudete” is Latin for “Rejoice.” This celebration is a reminder that God who loves us is still in charge and that we await his coming not with fear, but with tremendous joy.
What is the meaning of the shepherd's candle? ›
The third Advent candle, the 'Shepherd's Candle,' symbolises joy. Its rose colour represents the world's joy at the birth of Jesus and marks the midpoint of Advent on the third Sunday of Advent. The fourth Advent candle, the 'Angel's Candle,' is the last purple one, and we light this candle to signify peace.
What do the 3 Advent candles represent? ›
There are three blue or purple candles. One is for hope, one symbolizing preparation and one for love. There is one pink or rose candle for joy. And the last candle is white for purity, regeneration, godliness, light and victory.
What is preaching on the third Sunday of Advent? ›
Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, who at your first coming sent your messenger John the Baptist to prepare the way for you, grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may so make ready your way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to judge the world, ...
