This Sunday is called Gaudete Sunday. We are invited to rejoice, for Christmas Day draws even closer. The pink candle is lit. We are learning about Jesus both from Isaiah and from John the Baptist. We must remember that Palestine was an occupied country, subject to Roman rule. A recent series on BBC showed how Julius Caesar sacrificed the Roman republic to his own ambition, which led to the rule of the Roman Emperors, who claimed to be gods. The people who lived in these times must have found it hard to believe in any kind of dominion that was not repressive.
Yet Isaiah had imagined a different regime centuries ago. He had spoken of someone who would bring good news, who would heal, release captives and bring integrity. Mary continued this theme in her Magnificat where she spoke of a world that was turned upside down in favour of the weak and powerless. She also reiterated the promise that God had made through the centuries, that was soon to come to fruition. Finally, John the Baptist became witness for the coming light and selflessly distanced himself from the Christ, so that Christ could move easily into his place when the time came.