Third Sunday of Advent: Gaudete Sunday.  By Janet Henman.

The third candle of Advent symbolizes Joy.  As we continue to approach Christmas Day, our joy grows more and more.  The third candle takes us back to the joyful anticipation of the shepherds who journeyed to see Jesus in Bethlehem, even before the wise men.  On this third Sunday of Advent, which the Church calls “Gaudete Sunday,” meaning rejoice or praise, we light the third candle and rejoice like the shepherds.  For this reason, the third candle of Advent is called the “Shepherd’s Candle,” and its color is pink, the liturgical color for joy.

The shepherds were waiting for morning.   They were waiting for the sky to turn pink and the sun to come up, because that meant another night was over and their sheep were safe.  When the sun came up there would be other shepherds to help watch the flocks by day.  Night was more dangerous for sheep, it was easier for them to wander off, and there were more predators around.  So, the shepherds waited for morning.  And instead of morning, they saw something totally unexpected, a sky full of angels singing the praises of God and the Savior who had just been born.  Their normal night was turned into something extraordinary and a night they would never forget.  They were busy waiting for the night to be over, but something better than morning was coming!

Luke 2:8-20

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good new of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rest.”

How often does it feel like your night will last forever?  Perhaps you have trouble sleeping and it seems like the night will never end.  Or perhaps you are slightly afraid of the dark and it feel like it goes on forever.  Maybe you watch the clock for the last hour of the day, waiting for 5:00 p.m. so your work day is over, or the school bell to ring and your school day is over.

Most of the time, our days and nights might feel mundane and normal.  But sometimes, amazing things happen!  Like the shepherds, we don’t always expect extraordinary things to happen in our ordinary days.  But sometimes, God breaks into our day and we are awestruck.

Maybe God does something big, like answer a prayer in a huge way.  Or maybe it is something small, like when someone gives you a hug and makes your day better.  Whatever it is, spend your days waiting with anticipation that God will do something, and that something will give you great joy!

God is always at work even when we don’t always see it or expect it.  God probably isn’t going to send tons of angels to sing the good news like He did for the shepherds when Jesus was born, but as we go through our normal days waiting for them to be over, let’s make sure also to be on the lookout for God to do something unexpected and extraordinary to bring you good news and much joy so you can rejoice and praise the Lord!

May this Christmas season you awake each day with your heart flooded with joy and rejoicing and praising God for the gift of Jesus as we celebrate His birth with our families on Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas and Blessings on you and your family!