Joy of the Third Sunday of Advent

VATICAN CITY, DEC. 17, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here is the Vatican translation of the address Benedict XVI delivered today before reciting the midday Angelus with the thousands of people gathered in St. Peter's Square.

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Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On this Third Sunday of Advent, the liturgy invites us to the joy of the spirit. It does so with the famous antiphon as part of an exhortation of the Apostle Paul: "Gaudete in Domino", "Rejoice in the Lord always... the Lord is at hand" (cf. Phil 4:4, 5).

The first Reading of Mass is also an invitation to joy. The Prophet Zephaniah at the end of the seventh century B.C. spoke to the city of Jerusalem and its people with these words: "Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem...! [T]he Lord your God is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory" (Zep 3:14, 17).

God himself is portrayed with similar sentiments, as the prophet says: "The Lord... will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love... as on a day of festival" (Zep 3: 17-18). This promise was fully brought about in the mystery of Christmas, which we shall be celebrating in a week and which asks to be renewed in the "today" of our lives and of history.

The joy that the liturgy reawakens in the hearts of Christians is not reserved for us alone: it is a prophetic proclamation destined for all humanity and for the poorest of the poor in particular, in this case, those poorest in joy!

Let us think of our brothers and sisters who, especially in the Middle East, in several regions of Africa and other parts of the world, are experiencing the drama of war: what joy can they live? What will their Christmas be like?

Let us think of all the sick and lonely people who, in addition to being tried in their body, are also sorely tried in their soul because they often feel abandoned: how can we share joy with them without disrespecting their suffering?

But let us also think of those people, especially the young, who have lost their sense of true joy and seek it in vain where it is impossible to find it: in the exasperated race to self-affirmation and success, in false amusements, in consumerism, in moments of drunkenness, in the artificial paradise of drugs and every form of alienation. We must obviously face the liturgy today and its "Rejoice" with these tragic realities.

As in the times of the Prophet Zephaniah, it is particularly to those being tested and to "life's wounded and orphans of joy" that God's Word is being addressed in a special way.

The invitation to rejoice is not an alienating message nor a sterile palliative, but on the contrary, it is a salvific prophecy, an appeal for rescue that starts with inner renewal.

To transform the world, God chose a humble young girl from a village in Galilee, Mary of Nazareth, and challenged her with this greeting: "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you". In these words lies the secret of an authentic Christmas. God repeats them to the Church, to each one of us: Rejoice, the Lord is close! With Mary's help, let us offer ourselves with humility and courage so that the world may accept Christ, who is the source of true joy.

[At the end of the Angelus, the Pope greeted pilgrims in several languages. In Italian, he said:]

My thoughts go today to the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees in Syria, obliged to leave their country because of the dramatic situation that is being lived there. Caritas-Syria is going all-out to assist them.

However, I am launching an appeal to the sensitivity of private individuals, international organizations and governments so that they will make further efforts to address their most urgent needs. I raise my prayer to the Lord that he may give consolation to these brothers and sisters and move the hearts of many people to generosity.

[In English, he said:]

I am happy to greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present for today's Angelus. As we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent, we are called to purify our hearts and to open them with joy to Christ our Lord and Savior. He comes to us in our humanity, offering us a share in his divinity. May your stay in Rome renew your faith in the Lord, and may he grant you all a blessed Sunday!

[Benedict XVI then added in Italian:]

I address a special greeting to the children and youngsters of Rome, who have come with their families and teachers for the blessing of the figurines of the Child Jesus, which they will place in the Cribs of their homes, schools and parishes. I thank the Center of Parishes of Rome which has organized this significant pilgrimage and from my heart I bless the figurines of the Child Jesus. Dear children, at the Crib pray also to Jesus for the Pope's intentions! I thank you and I wish you a happy Christmas!

[Translation of Italian original by ZENIT]

© Copyright 2006 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana

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