Third Sunday of Advent

13 December 2009

Entrance	Longing, Trusting (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Kyrie Orbis Factor
Isaiah 12	Sing and shout for joy (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	O Come Divine Messiah (French 17th C.)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Behold the Lamb (Iona)
Communion	Song of God among us (Huijbers)
Final	The Voice of God

Gaudete Sunday. I am never sure about these mid-season 'reprieves'. It does not seem to sit well with a renewed understanding of Sunday as Dies Domine— the day of the Lord and that Advent is not primarily a penitential season. I would prefer to see the Sunday in the context of the other Sundays rather than as a 'week off''. Yes, the first and second readings together with the canticle are about joy and happiness but one does not want to presage the joy of Christmas.
Joy and happiness did appear in the setting of the canticle which mixed 7/8 and 4/4 bars, in O Come, divine Messiah one of the jauntiest of Advent hymns and in the Song of God among us — 'now be carefree, full of joy'. The Huijbers is a piece I find immensely satisfying; the conjunction of simple melody in quavers against the three other voices moving in crotchets carries the piece forward.