Sunday 17th of December
Advent week 3
“He has sent me to bring good news to the poor…”
Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-12
As we move into the third week of Advent, we celebrate Gaudete Sunday: The Sunday of JOY, where we are invited to “rejoice in the Lord always.” Philippines 4:4-5. Pope Francis reminds us that “a Christian that is not joyful lacks something.” Are we joyful Christians? Can we rejoice in the Lord even in the midst of suffering, grief, loss, and pain?
As we meditate on the passage from the prophet Isaiah, we are reminded that the Lord comes to liberate and free us from all that robs us of joy. God sent Jesus into the world to “bring good news to the poor to bind up broken hearts, proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to those in prison, proclaim a year of favour from the Lord.” What is the Good News that the Lord wants to tell us today? Perhaps it is the good news that we are always welcomed and loved by God. This is a cause of great joy. We pray, Lord, that as we meditate on your word, you might fill our hearts with great joy so that we can be bearers of good news to those around us.