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The Christmas Cycle
Third Sunday of Advent 3
The Mass
The spirit of the season progresses with the third Sunday of Advent. We no longer hear, “The
Lord shall come,” but rather, “The Lord is nigh.” The liturgy now releases its pent-up spirit in
childlike joy. It seems that the Christmas bells are already ringing. The liturgy of the Mass is
filled with psalms of the redemption. Psalm 84 is frequently used, and we find it especially in
the Introit and the Offertory. The rose-colored vestments breathe a spirit of joy.
“The Lord is nigh.” This thought is the guiding motif of today’s Mass as well as that of the Ember
days which occur during the week. Clearly and definitely the Introit announces the theme,
“Rejoice in the Lord always. . . . The Lord is nigh.” Do not be sad, but in prayer cast all your sorrow
on Him. He is nigh as the Savior and Redeemer. “Thou hast blessed Thy land; Thou hast turned
away the captivity of Jacob” (Introit). Thou hast visited Thy people who were languishing in
the captivity of Babylon. He who in former days was born a Redeemer in Bethlehem, will at
His second coming “reform the body of our lowness, made like to the body of His glory” (Phil
3:21). “Maran-antha” — come, O Lord (1 Cor 16:22); thus the Christians prayed to God in
former times. Today we pray in a similar spirit in the Kyrie and the Collect: “Incline Thy ear to
our prayers, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and enlighten the darkness of our minds by the grace of
Thy visitation,” which we now await.
The Epistle repeats with assurance, “The Lord is nigh.” At the same time it teaches us
how we should be disposed toward the coming of our redeeming God. In the first place, we
should have kindness and love for all our neighbors. We should withdraw our hearts from
all miserable worldly concerns, and let our soul dwell on God. Finally, our mind and heart
should be transformed by the blessed peace of God. “O Lord, stir up Thy might and come”
(Gradual). Behold, He comes, He is very near. Already He is made known by His herald,
John the Baptist. The voice of John at the Jordan is so insistent that it has stirred Jerusalem.
Such crowds of people come to John that the government is obliged to send officers to keep
order. John clearly declares his mission to the world. Now it must be evident to everyone
that the Lord is nigh.
He is nigh; yes, He “stands in the midst of you” now in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We await
Him and we possess Him, the Savior and the Redeemer. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I
say, rejoice. . . . The Lord is nigh” (Introit). Already He abides among us. He abides among us
in the person of His forerunner, who acknowledges himself unworthy to loosen the latchet of
His shoe (Gospel). At length He appears to us in person. “Rejoice in the Lord.” It is imperative
that we free ourselves from all worldly thoughts and fix our attention on Him. At so important
a moment we should not be occupied with excessive solicitude about the things of this world,
but should keep our attention fixed on Him who stands in our midst. “Through Him and with
Him and in Him, all honor and glory is given unto Thee, O God,” but to us every means of
salvation and grace.
3
Meditations on the “O” antiphons, which occur in the office of Vespers from December
17 to December 23, are given on, pp 57–65.
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