It is fitting this Third week of Advent is called “Gaudete Sunday” which today’s second reading really explains it well. The word “Gaudete” means rejoice.  The second reading even emphasizes it again and repeats it loud and clear and asks for all to rejoice.  At the same time the second reading really puts a contrast with what is opposite of rejoicing and that is anxiety.  And this is really the contrast of how many can be living Advent.  Some with rejoicing, some with anxiety.  Those who are living Advent with rejoicing are those are living it with thanksgiving in their prayer life.  Those that are living with rejoicing are those who asking themselves the same question the people asked John, which was “What should we do?” And they do not only ask the question but follow the advice.  They are living with Advent with a sense of justice, not wanting more than what they have, and caring about others by not extorting them, and finally, and most importantly, they are living Advent led by the Holy Spirit.  They are on fire because of the love of God.  At this point in the Advent season, they are assessing their spiritual process and are rejoicing because they are not the same person that they were at the beginning of Advent.  There is cause for rejoicing for the good progress made during the four weeks of Advent. There are reasons for rejoicing in two ways. One, because the reason for the season is close. It is the stirring of the human spirit by the Holy Spirit that knows the Beloved is nearby. Second, it is rejoicing knowing that thanks to the Holy Spirit, the presence of Christ is growing in the personal life, more space has been given for Him to be born.  It is rejoicing, celebrating not in a selfish way, but in thankful way, that the Light of Christ has grown stronger during these three weeks.    However, as mentioned, the contrast of rejoicing is anxiety.  This anxiety can also be experienced as well at this point.  For the time wasted, for not making any progress, for being stuck in the same place, for being caught unaware.  This anxiety grows as well, because none of the advice of John Baptist was practiced, lived, and experienced during this time of Advent.  The words of the prophet and the herald were left unheard, and the winnowing fan is ready to clear the threshing floor, and to cast all the chaff to be burnt in the unquenchable fire.  Many people are in this situation because of the world.  The world has taken away the rejoicing Advent brings and has left only anxiety. Advent is a season of preparation, but also of spiritual growth.  However, for the world, Advent does not exist. The weeks before Christmas, it is only a time to prepare to buy more and to have more. People suffer from this anxiety because their focus is about acquiring, but what the church offers at this point is rejoicing.  Perhaps the focus has been wrong, perhaps time has time has been wasted.  It is time to turn things around, and if there is knowledge of anxiety happening, it to time to change the course, and dedicate this last week of Advent to repent and ask the Lord, to experience some measure of rejoicing.  And may this rejoicing that may start in Advent continue into Christmas and beyond. Rejoicing is a mode of living.  May anxiety cease, and rejoicing increase because of the many good actions