advent: joy

Yesterday was the third Sunday of Advent. It's the Sunday of Joy or Gaudete, which I'm pretty sure is Latin.

The people of Israel looked forward with expectant joy for the coming savior. This is from Zechariah 9:

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
   Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
   righteous and having salvation is he,
   humble and mounted on a donkey,
   on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
   and the war horse from Jerusalem;
   and the battle bow shall be cut off,
   and he shall speak peace to the nations;
   his rule shall be from sea to sea,
   and from the River to the ends of the earth.
As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you,
   I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.
Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope;
   today I declare that I will restore to you double.
For I have bent Judah as my bow;
   I have made Ephraim its arrow.
I will stir up your sons, O Zion,
   against your sons, O Greece,
   and wield you like a warrior’s sword.

Then the LORD will appear over them,
   and his arrow will go forth like lightning;
   the Lord GOD will sound the trumpet
   and will march forth in the whirlwinds of the south.
The LORD of hosts will protect them,
   and they shall devour, and tread down the sling stones,
   and they shall drink and roar as if drunk with wine,
   and be full like a bowl,
   drenched like the corners of the altar.

On that day the LORD their God will save them,
   as the flock of his people;
   for like the jewels of a crown
   they shall shine on his land.
For how great is his goodness, and how great his beauty!
   Grain shall make the young men flourish,
   and new wine the young women.

And when Christ was born we were told that it was good news of great joy! that will be for all peoples. And He will bring peace.  (Luke 2)

We rejoice today because the beginning of the joy of all peoples has begun. It began in the birth of God into humanity and will be consummated at His return when he makes war for the final time and brings peace.

Hallelujah! Rejoice!

-joe