Cry Out with Joy and Gladness
for Among You Is
the Great and Holy One of Israel
Today’s response to the first reading is not one of the 150 psalms, but a song from the Book of Isaiah, one of the many songs found throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. On this Gaudete “Rejoice” Sunday, Zephaniah and Paul tell us to rejoice, feel peace and exalt God. The verses form a fitting bridge between the first reading and the gospel. The verses recognize God as savior and calls on the assembly to give thanks and praise for favors received. Our salvation is God’s doing, not ours. The refrain and last verse prepare us to consider John’s message that a mighty one is coming: “for dwelling in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.” Advent contemplates the mystery of both Christ’s presence now and his coming in the fullness of time. As we reflect on this song of thanksgiving and joy, we are directed to sing praise, cry out, give thanks, acclaim and shout how we experience Emmanuel, “God with us” in our lives.
God indeed is my Savior, I will never be afraid,
my strength and courage is the Holy One, my Savior and my song.
Give thanks and praise the name of God, sing out to all the earth
the wondrous deeds that God has done, our Savior and our song.
Shout with joy, O Zion, for dwelling in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel, your Savior and your song.
(Text by Marty Haugen, adapted. © 1988, 1994, GIA Publications, Inc.)