This Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent, is the Sunday we call "Gaudete," which translated from the Latin means "Rejoice." Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice. Today is the Sunday that signifies joy, both when we rejoice as we prepare for the coming of Christmas less than two weeks from now, and as we prepare and welcome the Kingdom of God already present in our midst, which will be fulfilled in its entirety when Christ returns in glory in the time when all things are finally complete.
Certainly we feel a heightened sense of excitement about things as we light the rose-colored candle of the Advent wreath and don the rose vestments for one of only two times in the liturgical year. This Sunday's celebration gives us a good opportunity to reflect on what there really is to be all that excited about, other of course than the imminent arrival of Christmas.
In order to meaningfully interpret the readings we have for today, and really any time we study scripture, there are at least two approaches we can take, and always--of course--we should seek the guidance of the Church's teaching. We keep in mind that what we look for is a living and dynamic encounter with the word of God. First, we might attempt to understand or step into the historical situation. What was it that Jesus or the prophets really wanted to impart to their audience at that time? What were the human authors attempting to affirm? Then next we can ask how the scriptures bear relevance to our lives in the world in which we live now? What does God want to reveal to us at the close of the year 2010?
Overall, something that stands out clearly in the readings today, which has the power to transcend history and time, is the theme of transformation. There is a clear prophecy of and fulfillment of transformation. Jesus says, "Go tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news preached to them." The prophecies of Isaiah were being fulfilled. Transformation and the dawn of a new era were beginning. Healing was taking place, as well as a new way of thinking about those who needed it, but not without challenge. We know that Jesus challenged the attitude and beliefs of his contemporaries. His challenge is for us too in our times. I've learned that the message is right when we feel that it makes us question our attitudes and beliefs us in some way. Often I feel challenged myself during my own homily because the message applies to me as well as everyone else.
During the time of Jesus there was a prevalent punishment concept of disease and disability. It was thought that if someone had a disease or disability it was because he or she had sinned, or even because his or her ancestor or ancestors had sinned. We might think that in our enlightened times we have moved far away from this kind of thinking. However, a good bit of modern scholarship has been devoted to understanding the punishment concept of disease in relation to, for example, the AIDS epidemic. Another example is how the word previously used to describe intellectual disability has come to be used as an insensitive insult. Unfortunately, the punishment concept is still with us and sometimes we aren't aware that it remains in our attitudes though not necessarily spoken or even fully realized.
Without a doubt, Jesus came to do away with such notions as the punishment concept of disease. He challenged the attitudes about sin and sickness. It's part of what we rejoice in this Sunday, and certainly the source of joy through the ages, that Jesus really is a savior in that he not only heals us and makes us whole, but he sets us free from the shame and guilt that binds us. Each of us has the opportunity to leave the weight of guilt behind and be reasonable, rational beings who part company with unreasonable and unhealthy ways of thinking.
A good friend of mine recently, actually it was my wife, asked me to consider the possibility that in our times the true miracle in healing, as promised by Jesus, will take place in our attitudes when we encounter people who have disabilities. Rather than seeing them as different or "other" than us, or even as "special," in the healed or transformed world we accept disability as natural. Also our attitudes change in that we don't mind so much adjusting our environment so that people of all levels of ability can be included. Perhaps we will come to see that fair does not always mean equal but that it requires us to go above and beyond the expectations of equality.
As I was growing up, and at a time when I began to seriously consider things of the faith, I came across the idea that salvation has mostly to do with health, or put another way, health is the metaphor for salvation. We're all familiar with the tent revivals where the main attraction is to see people healed by faith. Now certainly the healing ministry of Jesus, even in our times, should not be undervalued, even though we understand salvation as entailing much more than just health. Still, there's a lot of validity for us in our times in understanding health in the context of salvation and as part of the Church's mission. Health is so important that the Catholic bishops speak of healthcare not just as a commodity but as a basic human right that they say is included in "the first right of the human person, the right to life."
From a scriptural point of view, health and healing stand for the kind of transformation that we celebrate in the joy of Gaudete Sunday. It's a sign of mature faith to see salvation as an overall picture of a transformed world in which there is true progress. However, undoubtedly, in our times there are great challenges and obstacles to overcome. Often these obstacles are within us in the form of a particular mindset, attitude, or belief system—especially as it has to do with the way we experience and treat others.
As we move into Christmastime and a new year we have the opportunity not to become distracted but to become intent on healing the wounds of disunity and distrust that abound. More than ever before we are in the place where we may counter the forces of unbelief by embracing joy, healing, forgiveness, transformation, and the progress that forms us into the full, mature, stature of Christ who comes to save the world and make all things new.
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