The third Sunday of Advent is sometimes called Gaudete Sunday.  Like the fourth Sunday of Lent, often called Laetare Sunday, it proclaims joy in the midst of a penitential season.  If you were able to attend Mass last weekend (I know the snowfall interfered with that), you may wonder and think that the readings and Psalm for the second Sunday of Advent seemed to reflect joy quite a bit.

The fact is, of course, that both seasons contain an element of repentance.  That repentance is in preparation for the two seminal celebrations of our faith—Christmas and Easter.  That preparation differs, however, because of the different character of these celebrations.  Lent is more penitential, because we approach Easter only by passing through the Passion of Jesus.  The pain and darkness of that is touched upon only lightly in the Advent/Christmas season.

The Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus are impossible without the Incarnation.  The Passion and Resurrection, on the other hand, increase the importance and joy of the Incarnation.  Together, these two feasts show us the depth of God’s love for all of us.  So…let us rejoice!