Joy Sunday and Blue Christmas (Zephaniah 3:14-20; Isaiah 12:2-6; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18)
The Advent 3 readings present an awkward tension.
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For more commentary on this week's readings, see the Reflections on the Lectionary page. For full-text access to all articles, subscribe to the Century.
It’s that time of the Advent season again: Gaudete (or “joy”) Sunday. For some of us, it’s the week to light the pink candle on the Advent wreath or to don those rose-colored vestments that come out just one other time each year. For all of us who follow the Revised Common Lectionary, it’s the week the readings bend decisively toward joy.
