Sadness is easy. Joy is a decision. St.

Paul tells us we will find joy by praying

without ceasing. He also says to refrain from every kind of evil, it will take away
our happiness, for that reason we need to hear John the Baptist: "Make straight the
way of the Lord." This Advent we are encouraged to make an examination of
conscience take a year-end inventory on our life. Then make a good confession.
Confession can lighten one's conscience and a clear conscience leads to joy. Today
is the Third Sunday of Advent - also known as Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is a Latin
word meaning "rejoice."

Advent Wreath & Candle Introduction Pause before reading

Last Sunday we lit the candle of Hope, remembering the hope which comes in Christ,
and we lit the candle of Peace, remembering Gods dream of a peaceful world. (Light
the 2 Purple Candles).
Today we light the third candle of Advent, the candle of Joy.
In Advent, we are in a time of waiting. Like the Israelites who wandered through
the Wilderness, waiting to come into the Promised Land, we wait for the coming of
the Joy of Ages. We wait for the day where we can join our voices with the angels
to sing Joy to the World, the Lord is come! We wait for the day when everlasting
joy will be on each of us.
We light this candle in Joy. (Light the Pink Candle)
On this day, we remember the Spirit who breathes joy into our lives.

Introduction to the First Reading: - Do not read this line

In our first reading, from Isaiah, the prophet is filled with joy. He has the
anointing of the Spirit to bring, in the name of God, good news of encouragement,
healing, freedom, and an outpouring of Gods special favour.

Introduction to the Second reading: - Do not read this line

Our Second reading takes up today's theme of Joy. St. Pauls reference to those
things that unite that early Christian community provides a useful check list as we
evaluate the life of our own communities.

COLLECT
O God, who see how your people faithfully await the feast of the Lords Nativity,
enable us, we pray, to attain the joys of so great a salvation and to celebrate
them always with solemn worship and glad rejoicing. Through our Lord Jesus Christ,
your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,
forever and ever.
FIRST READING
(This reading from Isaiah has two parts. The first part is the song of the Lords
Anointed. The second part depicts the nuptial joy of Zion clothed with salvation
and righteousness).
A reading from the Book of Isaiah
(61:1-2a, 10-11)
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring
good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to
proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are
bound; to proclaim the year of the Lords favour, and the day of vengeance of our
God.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exult in my God; for he has
clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of
righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns
herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden
causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness
and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
The Word of the Lord

PSALM (Lk 1:46-50, 53-54)

Response: My soul shall exult in my God.
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has
regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold henceforth all generations
will call me blessed. R/
For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his
mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. R/
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. He
has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy. R/
SECOND READING
(Paul gives a series of brief commands which form the basis for Christian living.
Besides, Christians have an obligation to pray and make their lives joyful).
A reading from the First Letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians (5:16-24)
Brethren, rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for
this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit, do not
despise prophesying, but test everything; hold fast what is good, abstain from
every form of evil.
May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and
body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who
calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
The Word of the Lord
ACCLAMATION
Alleluia, alleluia! The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me. He has sent me to
bring good news to the poor. Alleluia! (Lk 4:18)
GOSPEL
(John the Baptist comes to bear testimony to Jesus who is the light of

the world. Johns role is to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah).
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St John (1:6-8, 19-28)
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear
witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but
came to bear witness to the light.
And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from
Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you? He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed,
I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Are you Elijah? He said, I
am not. Are you the prophet? And he answered, No. They said to him then, Who
are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about
yourself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight
the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the
Pharisees. They asked him, Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the
Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet? John answered them, I baptize with water;
but among you stands one whom you do not know, even he who comes after me, the
thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie. This took place in Bethany beyond
the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
The Gospel of the Lord
I believe in God,/the Father almighty,/ Creator of heaven and earth,/and in Jesus
Christ,/his only Son,/our Lord, / who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,/ born of
the Virgin Mary,/suffered under Pontius Pilate,/was crucified,/died and was
buried;/he descended into hell;/on the third day he rose again from the dead;/he
ascended into heaven,/and is seated at the right hand of God the Father
almighty;/from there he will come to judge the living and the dead./I believe in
the Holy Spirit,/the holy Catholic Church,/the communion of saints,/the forgiveness
of sins,/the resurrection of the body,/and life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
Cel: At the termination of the Babylonian exile prophet Isaiah articulated his
sentiments in the form of a beautiful poem in which he thanked the Lord for making
him a messenger of the good tidings. That we too may sing Gods praises for the
marvels he works in our lives, let us thank him, saying,
Response: Lord, cloth us with the garments of salvation.
1. For the pope, the bishops and the clergy that as pastors of the Church they may
bring comfort and consolation to the people who are suffering, we pray R./
2. For the broken hearted, that the failings and the disappointments in their lives
may not drive them to despair and hopelessness but to a firm trust in God who comes
to the rescue of those who call upon him, we pray R./
3. For the people serving their prison terms that in their isolation and denial of
freedom they may realize their mistakes and show eagerness to live honest and
sincere lives, we pray R./
4. For the priests, the religious and the laity who work in educational
institutions that they may inculcate in the young the values of healthy living, we
pray R./
5. For all of us present in this Eucharistic assembly that the coming of Christ for
which we are preparing ourselves may strengthen our faith in the Lord Jesus, we
pray R./
(Pray for community and personal needs)
Cel: God our Father, we thank you for this period of preparation for the coming of
your Son. As John the Baptist prepared the people to receive your Son through his
call to repentance, may our advent penance prepare us to welcome your Son into our
midst. We make this prayer
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
May the sacrifice of our worship, Lord, we pray, be offered to you unceasingly, to
complete what was begun in sacred mystery and powerfully accomplish for us your
saving work. Through Christ our Lord.
PREFACE I (Advent)
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to
give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our
Lord.
For he assumed at his first coming the lowliness of human flesh, and so fulfilled
the design you formed long ago, and opened for us the way to eternal salvation,
that, when he comes again in glory and majesty and all is at last made manifest, we
who watch for that day may inherit the great promise in which now we dare to hope.
And so, with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominions, and with all the
hosts and powers of heaven, we sing the hymn of your glory, as without end we
acclaim:
All: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts...
COMMUNION ANTIPHON
Say to the faint of heart: Be strong and do not fear. Behold, our God will come,
and he will save us. (Isa 35:4)
(Bar 5:5; 4:36)
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
We implore your mercy, Lord, that this divine sustenance may cleanse us of our
faults and prepare us for the coming feasts. Through Christ our Lord.