The Third Sunday of Advent is one of the special celebrations that we have in the Church. Twice a year, the Church sets aside a Sunday that uses the color rose as the liturgical color. The Third Sunday of Advent also known as Gaudete Sunday, is a day set aside for celebration. Now most people refer to it as the pink Sunday, as the third candle is traditionally rose/ pink in color. If we look at the name Gaudete for this Sunday, we get a better impression of what is intended. Guadete is the second person plural active imperative of gaudeo to rejoice. A literal translation in English would be you all rejoice; however, a proper Kentucky translation would be y’all rejoice!Being that it is in the form of an imperative, then it is more of a command to rejoice. It is a command to rejoice, which is a bit odd; however, if we examine the world around us it is something essential to growing in hope.
The entire season of Advent is about patiently waiting for the Lord to come into our lives. The third Sunday then is meant to remind us that our waiting is not one of despair. Instead, our waiting is one filled with joy at the expectant arrival of Jesus Christ. As we gather, then we use rose vestments, as it is a joyful color. A color of expectation, a color of hope a color meant to lift our spirits and to fill us with hope.
