BE GLAD, GIVE THANKS TO GOD: GAUDETE Sunday B

POINTING TO THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD

Dear Friends,

To all those who are poor, have nowhere to go, cannot see their way, feel oppressed, burdened, and have lost hope, Jesus is the good news of God’s love, source of joy. This is the feeling that pervades all today’s readings.

In the first reading we hear Isaiah reminding us that God is the source of our joy:

‘I exult for joy in the Lord, my soul rejoices in my God,

In the Second Reading Paul, too, calls on the Christian community in Thessalonika to ‘be happy at all times’, living constantly in the presence of God and thanking God for the many blessings they have received through God’s love.

Today’s Gospel tells us that John the Baptizer came as a witness to testify to the Light, i.e., Jesus. The coming of Jesus, the Light, into the world is cause for rejoicing as Light removes darkness from the world. We should be glad and rejoice also because, like John the Baptizer, we, too, are chosen to bear witness to Christ Jesus, the Light of the world. We are to reflect Jesus’ Light in our lives so that we may radiate it and illuminate the dark lives of others around us.

Friends, this Sunday we are invited to intensify the interior pace of our pilgrimage to the Lord who comes to save us. Jesus, source of our peace, is coming. For this reason, despite difficulties and problems we face, we are invited to be full of holy optimism and joy.