Third Sunday of Advent: Coming home to the Church
December 15, 2023 at 12:00 p.m.
For most of us, the idea of “going home” brings eagerness, comfort and joy, whether it be simply after a long day at work or, in some cases, following a much longer period of separation. It's good to be home. When we walk up to the door of our home, we anticipate the good things behind it: family and loved ones waiting for us; things familiar to us; a place where we can be most truly ourselves, most truly “at home.”
For those of us who are “cradle Catholics,” our parish Church has always been a “second home” to us and our families. In a broader sense, the Catholic Church is a home to all the baptized, a place for the entire Catholic community. It offers a world-wide family with things familiar to all the faithful: the opportunity to be “at home” with God and our fellow believers – all things to celebrate with joy.
Some of our Catholic sisters and brothers may be very active in the Church and are never far from home while others may not have darkened the door of the Church in a very long time. In either case, it is appropriate for the whole Church community of faith to accept the invitation that the season of Advent and Christmas gives us this year.
Perhaps for some, the idea of coming home to Church may bring some hesitation, some fear, some anxiety. It may be a long time since we have passed through the doors of a church, a long time since we received the Sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist and we are afraid. Perhaps we find some of the teachings of the Church hard to understand, to grasp or to follow and we don’t feel welcome or that we fit in. Perhaps we had a bad or hurtful experience that has kept us away, harsh or unkind words or judgment. If any or all of these feelings describe you or someone you know and love, coming home to Church is for you and exactly what you need. Come in. Come home. Bring your family. Bring a friend. Bring someone who needs to feel welcome.
Monitor file photo / Mike EhrmannPope Francis has urged us, “Let us abandon all fear and dread for these do not befit men and women who are loved. Instead, let us live the joy of encounter with the grace that transforms all.”
In John’s Gospel we hear Jesus saying “I am the door. By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved; and he shall go in and go out and shall find pastures (John 10:9).” Jesus is at the door with his Father waiting for us, for you. His greeting is the source of our joy!
Today, the 3rd Sunday of Advent, is traditionally called “Gaudete Sunday,” a Latin word from the prayers that begin this day’s Mass telling us “to rejoice.” Advent is the doorway to the joy of Christmas when Jesus came to dwell with us: the joy of encounter with Christ!
Our first reading today from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah tells us:
“… rejoice heartily in the LORD, in my God is the joy of my soul;
for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels.”
That robe, that mantle are what is waiting for us and Christ himself is waiting for us on the other side of the doors to the Church. My sisters and brothers come in; come home; find the warmth and love and welcome that fills a true home and share them with others.
Our second reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians encourages us, “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” Notice his words “in all circumstances” – cradle Catholics, more or less recent Catholics, “occasional” Catholics, lapsed Catholics; happy Catholics, angry Catholics, wounded Catholics, needy Catholics. Old Catholics, mid-life Catholics, young Catholics … there’s room in the “home” of our Catholic Church and its parish churches, “in the pews” for everyone. Pope Francis exclaimed at the recent Synod, “tutti, tutti, tutti – everyone. Seek and find joy and then “rejoice,” pray, give thanks for what you have and what you hope for.
Our Gospel reading from St. John presents John the Baptist inviting us how to ready ourselves to meet the Messiah.
The Season of Advent once again opens the door to our Church home for us all, the door to a home where we’ll find forgiveness and welcome, compassion, joy and merciful love. So, this Advent and Christmas, enter the door and make yourself at home.
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For most of us, the idea of “going home” brings eagerness, comfort and joy, whether it be simply after a long day at work or, in some cases, following a much longer period of separation. It's good to be home. When we walk up to the door of our home, we anticipate the good things behind it: family and loved ones waiting for us; things familiar to us; a place where we can be most truly ourselves, most truly “at home.”
For those of us who are “cradle Catholics,” our parish Church has always been a “second home” to us and our families. In a broader sense, the Catholic Church is a home to all the baptized, a place for the entire Catholic community. It offers a world-wide family with things familiar to all the faithful: the opportunity to be “at home” with God and our fellow believers – all things to celebrate with joy.
Some of our Catholic sisters and brothers may be very active in the Church and are never far from home while others may not have darkened the door of the Church in a very long time. In either case, it is appropriate for the whole Church community of faith to accept the invitation that the season of Advent and Christmas gives us this year.
Perhaps for some, the idea of coming home to Church may bring some hesitation, some fear, some anxiety. It may be a long time since we have passed through the doors of a church, a long time since we received the Sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist and we are afraid. Perhaps we find some of the teachings of the Church hard to understand, to grasp or to follow and we don’t feel welcome or that we fit in. Perhaps we had a bad or hurtful experience that has kept us away, harsh or unkind words or judgment. If any or all of these feelings describe you or someone you know and love, coming home to Church is for you and exactly what you need. Come in. Come home. Bring your family. Bring a friend. Bring someone who needs to feel welcome.
Monitor file photo / Mike EhrmannPope Francis has urged us, “Let us abandon all fear and dread for these do not befit men and women who are loved. Instead, let us live the joy of encounter with the grace that transforms all.”
In John’s Gospel we hear Jesus saying “I am the door. By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved; and he shall go in and go out and shall find pastures (John 10:9).” Jesus is at the door with his Father waiting for us, for you. His greeting is the source of our joy!
Today, the 3rd Sunday of Advent, is traditionally called “Gaudete Sunday,” a Latin word from the prayers that begin this day’s Mass telling us “to rejoice.” Advent is the doorway to the joy of Christmas when Jesus came to dwell with us: the joy of encounter with Christ!
Our first reading today from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah tells us:
“… rejoice heartily in the LORD, in my God is the joy of my soul;
for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels.”
That robe, that mantle are what is waiting for us and Christ himself is waiting for us on the other side of the doors to the Church. My sisters and brothers come in; come home; find the warmth and love and welcome that fills a true home and share them with others.
Our second reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians encourages us, “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” Notice his words “in all circumstances” – cradle Catholics, more or less recent Catholics, “occasional” Catholics, lapsed Catholics; happy Catholics, angry Catholics, wounded Catholics, needy Catholics. Old Catholics, mid-life Catholics, young Catholics … there’s room in the “home” of our Catholic Church and its parish churches, “in the pews” for everyone. Pope Francis exclaimed at the recent Synod, “tutti, tutti, tutti – everyone. Seek and find joy and then “rejoice,” pray, give thanks for what you have and what you hope for.
Our Gospel reading from St. John presents John the Baptist inviting us how to ready ourselves to meet the Messiah.
The Season of Advent once again opens the door to our Church home for us all, the door to a home where we’ll find forgiveness and welcome, compassion, joy and merciful love. So, this Advent and Christmas, enter the door and make yourself at home.