Zep 3:14-18a Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6. Phil 4:4-7 Lk 3:10-18

When I was in high school, yes that was a long time ago. In my sophomore year there was a riot in the school that began in the cafeteria and spread outside the school. A friend of mine was pulled off his bike and severely beaten, winding up in the hospital for multiple days. It seemed to be racially charged. The riot happened around lunchtime and we were all told to remain in our classrooms awaiting further instructions. When those instructions came they were to go directly outside and get on our buses to go home. Well my bus consisted of 40 kids on the bus, myself and 39 others of a different race. Since I was aware of the undertones for the riot I chose to go down to get on a different bus that would drop me off around three blocks from my house. The bus drivers were instructed not to let anyone on the bus that did not normally ride that bus, but when I told the driver my normal bus number he allowed me to get on. Two days later we were let back in the school, I walked down to my normal bus stop and got on the bus for the day taking my normal seat which was all the way upfront since my stop was the last stop prior to going to the high school. I was definitely nervous about doing this but I was confident it was the correct thing to do. Most of the guys on the bus and I had played on multiple sports teams growing up together and we would often have pickup games of baseball and football on a field close to the house. I was definitely overjoyed when I got on the bus and after a brief silence everything proceeded as a normal day would. While all the issues may not be racially motivated we are indeed in a time where there is much distrust, angst and anger in the world today. This is totally opposite of what Gaudete Sunday is supposed to be about. Gaudete is Latin for Rejoice, which is why we wear rose vestments and light the rose candle. Rose is the color that is supposed to reflect Joy in the world. This is also shown throughout the readings we have today. From the prophet Zephaniah we hear: Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!He is reminding us that since we are children of the loving merciful God we should not be in fear if we follow him and obey his commandments, no matter the situation we are in.The responsorial Psalm reminds us Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel. St. Paul reminds the Philippians that we are to Rejoice always in the Lord.All of these reminders to be joyful and rejoice in the Lord can get lost in the hustle and bustle of the season as we await Christmas. Yet as Christians this is what we are called to be, no matter the circumstance we are to Rejoice in the Lord. This joyful reminder can sometimes be easier to see around Advent and Christmas. It can also be just the opposite with people fighting to get that great deal and not caring what others thinkWe do see it played out in the extra giving that occurs for those in need, as we do with the Angel Tree and our Christmas Market and as individuals to help those less fortunate during this time of year. John the Baptist in the gospel today though reminds us that this should be how we lead our lives on a daily basis, not just during the Advent and Christmas seasons. You see he was asked by three different groups how they should act. The first was the Jewish race who were reminded that they were to share the excess with those in need. The second were the tax collectors who were the outcasts of society. He reminded them not to collect more than what was prescribed so that they were happy with their commission on the tax.The third were the gentiles in the form of the soldiers who came wondering what all the fuss was about. John reminded them to treat all they come in contact with dignity and respect, by not extorting money from them or falsely accusing them of something. With these three groups coming to John he proceeds to remind them that God calls all to him, not just the rich, the righteous or the powerful. He reminds them that the Messiah is coming who will reinforce the idea of the dignity of all people no matter their heritage. He also reminds us about the Messiah with the famous line I am not worthy of loosening the thongs of his sandals. Just as we are unworthy of his infinite mercy. This line is to show that even what the people of the time consider the lowest jobs, caring for another’s feet, John was unworthy to do for the Messiah. It should remind us today that we are not Christ and that we really have trouble understanding how he could spend time with tax collectors, sinners and gentiles. Christ is coming to SAVE us all if we are willing to follow his direction. His direction is completely opposite of what we are told is the way to live our lives today. You see, just as in Jesus’ time we are told that it is okay to bully people, take money from them or lie about them provided we end up with what we want. How many of the people who follow this mindset seem like they have any joy in their life? While they may be joyful when they get what they want it is short lived since they are soon on to the next thing they would want. Just another reminder we are called to Rejoice in the Lord at all times. This includes times of suffering whether it be mental, physical or financial. We are all called to be joyful at all times. You see we are called to do this because Christ came to die for all of us and when he comes again in Glory he will take care to separate the wheat from the chaff. I think everyone here would want to be on the side of the wheat. This means that the joy of the Christmas season should live within us all year long.Every time we attend mass we have the ability to receive Christ, body, soul and divinity within us through the Eucharist. With this nourishment we are fortified to be joyful through all of our trials and tribulations. The Joy I felt when I got on that bus and there were no repercussions reminded me that when we treat everyone with dignity we will be perpetuating the ideas that Jesus teaches us. We get to remind not only those we dignify by our treatment, but those around them who may not understand the joy that comes from treating people with dignity and respect regardless of their station in life or for that matter our station in life.Treating everyone with dignity and respect is a way to show Jesus to those around us and aren’t we called to do this by our faith? It is when we struggle to treat people with that dignity and respect that Jesus showed to all that we lose some of that joy we gain at this time of year. When we treat everyone with this dignity and respect as myself and fellow bus riders did that day, the joy we feel can be contagious. As Pope Francis has reminded us “A Christian is never bored or sad. Rather the one who loves Christ is full of joy and radiates joy.” This is who we are called to be at all times, not just during Advent and Christmas.