Gaudete!

Third Sunday of Advent!
Gaudete!
That is the name we have given to this Sunday - Gaudete! Of course translated from the Latin, Gaudete means "Rejoice."
With this Sunday we are already anticipating the joyful news of Christmas. Of course, throughout so much of the world these days, anticipation has given way to celebration long ago.
Nevertheless, for us we have Gaudete Sunday.
And this year our second reading from the Scriptures is Philippians 4:4-7. In his writing St. Paul sets the theme. "Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I say it: Rejoice!"
This year that is our second reading. However, readings cycle over a three year period these days and so we have this particular reading once every three years. No matter, however. This Sunday still calls us to rejoice.
Back when, before the development of the new and expanded lectionary, this passage from Philippians was the assigned reading every Third Sunday of Advent.
And it is to the time back when to which I take you for a few brief moments now.
Back when, specifically, is 1963. Even after all these years I remember it well.
I was a deacon back then. And I was in my final stages of training for ordination to the priesthood. And a critical part of that training was in the area of homiletics.
We were learning how to preach.
Somewhere along the line during that year we would be given a live experience. We would join one of the faculty members. The faculty member would preside at Mass and we would deliver our very first homily before real people!
We would be preaching at Mass off campus in some assigned setting.
And I drew Gaudete Sunday.
My very first homily would be given on this day. My topic, obviously, was the spirit of Christian rejoicing. I would be pointing to the coming Feast and capturing all the joy that fills and surrounds it.
Actually, I would be giving the homily at two Masses that day in two very similar settings.
Rejoice! I would proclaim!
The joy of Christmas is nearly upon us, I would remind them.
With one "slight" hitch!
The two Masses would take place back to back - first in the mens' section and then in the women's section -
of the Detroit House of Correction!
A jail!
I would be preaching about Christmas and Christian joy to prisoners!
In all likelihood those to whom I would be preaching that morning would not be home for Christmas, likely no exchanging presents, sending cards, greeting family, enjoying the family Christmas dinner.
Prisioners!
Rejoice!
But then again, why not rejoice?
After all, Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians while he was in prison.
He found joy - a deep inner joy - while in a prison cell. He did so because he knew the nearness of the Lord to him even there.
Should we not, then, Rejoice - wherever we find ourselves?