Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ever faithful to your promises and ever close to your Church: the earth rejoices in hope of the Savior's coming and looks forward with longing to his return at the end of time.
Prepare our hearts and remove the sadness that hinders us from feeling the joy and hope which his presence will bestow, for he is Lord for ever and ever.
May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

The Third Sunday of Advent offers us more of the promise. The words used by the prophet Isaiah to describe God's vindication are the ones Jesus points to as describing his own mission: The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the LORD and a day of vindication by our God

Today is “joy” Sunday; we light the pink candle in the Advent wreath; we sing songs of joy. This week, remember that Jesus has won the victory; we have nothing to fear

Today is called Gaudete Sunday because the word means rejoice. The Prophet Zephaniah tells the people that the Lord will rejoice over them in gladness, and renew them in love.

The joy of the Church today is in the coming of Jesus – once and every day – to bring us peace and joy and gladness and love.

In the Gospel of John we are told that John the Baptist has come to testify to the Light, but he is not the Light. Jesus is the Light of the World for whom we wait during Advent

May this Advent season help us welcome Jesus, the Emmanuel and the Wonder Worker, with all our hearts and lead us toward the “New Earth” promised to us

Our vulnerability can become our strength. Our role as a Christian community is to “cheer up the fainthearted, support the weak and be patient with everyone.”

We begin this third week of Advent asking to feel the joy that comes from knowing our Lord's coming to us is near. In these precious days ahead, we are praying, longing, hoping in the background of our everyday lives.
His mission is to the poor, the brokenhearted, prisoners and captives. His mission is for us. It is "good news," full of healing, liberty and release. We can smile today as we imagine the freedom he has won for us and how liberating it will be to live it, with him, for others. It is right to give our God thanks and praise.

Decorate your front door today. Let the world know that they are welcome in your house and that the birth of Christ is celebrated there