Mass for the 3rd Sunday of Advent, Year C – at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Dundee, celebrated by Mgr Pat McInally – parish priest at St Columba’s, Cupar.
Mgr McInally spoke about Pope Francis’ 2013 encyclical – Evangelii Gaudium, The Joy of the Gospel, which opens with these words:
“The Joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew. In this Exhortation I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come”
Speaking in Dundee, on Gaudette Sunday, Mgr Pat McInally said:
“Pope Francis’ encyclical reminds us of the great dangers in today’s world, divided as it is by consumerism; the feverous pursuit of frivolous pleasure and a blunted conscience. There is no place in our lives for others, no place for the poor. God’s voice can no longer be heard and the quiet joy of his love for us can no longer be felt and the desire to do good works begins to fade.”
“It is easy to become distracted by the bright lights and the clever advertising – and to miss the message of the Gospel.”
On this Gaudette Sunday, the Lord is very near. It is is time once again to recapture some of that Joy that the Holy Father speaks about. The Joy of the Gospel.