Third Sunday of Advent - JOY

Voice 1 - We have now reached the third week of Advent, when we light the JOY candle, which is pink. It is also called the ANGEL candle.

Voice 2 - We find angels everywhere we turn in the Christmas story:

An angel appears to Zechariah, the priest, to foretell the birth of his son, John, who will prepare people for the coming of the Messiah.

An angel tells Mary that she will bear the Messiah.

An angel reassures Joseph, warns the wise men, and urges the Holy Family to flee from Bethlehem.

Voice 3 - Most dramatically, when the angel appeared to the shepherds and proclaimed, “I bring you tidings of great joy,” he was backed up by a whole army of angels. No wonder the shepherds were terrified!

Voice 4 - What was this JOY? It was the presence of God among us, God in the person of the newborn baby who would grow up to be our savior.

Voice 1 - When Mary was pregnant with Jesus, she went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, who was also pregnant. When Mary drew near, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy when he recognized that Jesus was in his presence. Do our hearts leap for joy when we sense God’s presence in our lives?

Voice 2 - As we light the JOY candle, we want the words of the psalmist to be true for us as well. It is written: “You will fill me with joy in your presence.”

(Light candles one, two, and three –the pink candle)

Voice 3 - How do we experience this joy in our lives? Jesus gives us a clue in John’s gospel when he says: “If you obey my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Voice 4 - Let us pray: Jesus, you are searching your followers for awakened souls who thrill to the joy of your presence. You provide the joy; our part is to glorify you by living close to you. May we be living tidings of great joy to those around us this Advent season, as we share the presence of Christ through our words and our actions. Amen