Gaudete Sunday: My Soul Rejoices in God, by Gayle Somers

On this Sunday, the Church calls us to rejoice, even though our waiting and preparation aren’t over yet.  Why?

Gospel (Read Jn 1:6-8, 19-28)

Today we have another description of the work of John the Baptist before the public appearance of Jesus at the Jordan River.  In addition to calling the people of Judea to repent, John also had to answer questions about himself.  We need to know that expectation of the Messiah’s coming was at fever pitch in first century Judea.  Centuries earlier, the prophet, Daniel, was given a message from the angel, Gabriel, with a numbered calculation of years that would pass between the Exile of Judah in Babylon and the appearance of God’s “anointed one.”  During this time (about 500 years), four great Gentile kingdoms would rise and fall. The last of these kingdoms would actually be turned over to “the saints of God” and become His kingdom on earth.  Doing the math of Daniel’s prophecy, the Jews of John the Baptist’s day knew that the time had arrived.  It is no wonder, then, that the religious leaders asked him point blank:  “Who are you?”  Surely they were wondering if he were the promised (and imminent) Messiah.  He told them:  “I am not the Christ.”…

Continue reading >>>>>>>>>>