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Sunday Of Joy
Gaudete Sunday is special for a variety of reasons. The candle on the Advent wreath is a different color from the others. The rose candle is symbolic of the joy which is this Sunday’s theme.
He Will Joy Over Thee With Singing
14Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
15The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.
16In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.
17The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
18I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.
19Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.
20At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.
~Zephaniah 3:14-20
The prophet Zephaniah was another of those who foresaw the doom of the Kindom of Judah coming due to their departure from the covenant. By embracing foreign gods and rituals, the people of Israel had walked away from their special relationship with God.
However, since this is about joy, Zephaniah wraps up his prophetic vision with a prediction of restoration. He speaks of the joy God feels when his children return to the special relationship with Him.
The Book of Zephaniah inspired the hymn ‘Dies Irae (Day of Wrath)’
The sentiment is grim enough, but I think Mozart brings a lot more of the dread to the tune.
Therefore With Joy
2Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
3Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
4And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
5Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.
6Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.
~Isaiah 12:2-6
Isaiah lived well before the fall of Judah, but even he could see it coming. Nevertheless, he lived in relatively good times and could speak of the joy of the presence of God in their midst. Even though he was speaking of a time to come, he could feel the presence of God in the land and time he lived in.
Just as God rejoices in our relationship with Him, we can rejoice in His relationship with us. It is certainly with joy that we drink from the wells of salvation and sing praises of the things He has done for us and all mankind.
Rejoice In The Lord Always
4Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
5Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
~Philippians 4:4-7
Paul was getting back in touch with his friends in Filippoi, Greece. After a great deal of instruction, Paul closes with an extended series of exhortations on how to live joyously in the Love of Christ. We’ve spoken previously of ἀγάπη (agapē) and the special kind of love it is. Paul points out that Christians needn’t live in fear, but rather should live joyously knowing that God provides for all of our needs.
He Shall Baptize You With The Holy Ghost And With Fire
7Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
9And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
10And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?
11He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
12Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
13And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
14And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
15And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
16John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
17Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
18And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.
~Luke 3:7-18
Our irascible friend, John the Baptist, is making a joyful noise in his own unique idiom. Like Zephaniah before him, John talks of the destruction to come and the doom of the unfaithful in one breath but still lays out the prospect of a savior to come.
John has been baptizing people with water but says He who is to come will baptize with the fire of the Holy Spirit. He speaks of his very own cousin, Jesus. It was said that even in the womb, John leapt for joy at the news of the coming of Jesus.
If the guy who marched roughshod through the wilderness eating locusts and wild honey can shout with joy whenever his cousin came near, so can we.
Jesus is never far from us.
How great our joy!