This Sunday we exchange the sombre purple, the usual colour of Advent for rose, and we’re even allowed some flowers on the altar. Why? Because today, the Third Sunday of Advent is ‘Gaudete Sunday.’ It is a sign the Church gives us that the fasting, prayer and the waiting for the birth of our Saviour is almost over, and the rose-coloured vestments and the rose-coloured candle on the Advent wreath lifts us from pure penance to an anticipatory joy.

Rose is the liturgical colour of joy in this period of preparation, indicating that something wonderful is near. The Church is saying, “It’s fine to be joyful now, because God is coming.” And the Latin word ‘gaudete’ comes from the first words of today’s Entrance Antiphon from St Paul’s letter to the Philippians (4:4): “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near.” And this joy is rooted not in the passing pleasures of this world, but in the assurance that God is faithful to His promises. That’s why we have in the First Reading another powerful prophecy from Isaiah (35:1-6, 10). He gives the signs by which the Messiah will be known. “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.” These are the credentials of the Messiah in which God tells us what the Messiah is going to do.

And then, seven centuries later, when John the Baptist was suffering in prison and near martyrdom, he sends his disciples to JESUS to ask Him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” But Our Lord doesn’t give them a speech. He simply says, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the dead rise, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them.” In other words, the prophecies are being fulfilled. The Messiah is here. So God really does keep all His promises. And that’s why we rejoice today. This is the point of the rose candle, the rose vestments, the flowers on the altar and the readings about rejoicing. It all points to one truth: Christ is near. His coming is now imminent. So get ready, stay faithful and rejoice.

So don’t just look at the rose candle and vestments and think, “How lovely!” Let it challenge you. Think, right, Advent is almost complete. Christ really is coming, and He’s coming very soon. So I need to try and develop a deeper prayer life, I need to go to Confession and get my soul in order. And because the coming of the Lord is now so close, I’m joyful and full of hope, because of what I know He’s going to do for me. He’s coming to save me.

Gaudete! Rejoice! The Saviour is at the door.

Fr Paul Gillham, IC