The third week of Advent'Joy is a state of mind and an orientation of the heart.' – AnonSYMBOLIZING joy, the third week of Advent brings us a rose or pink candle and so too, is this week's liturgical color. We are nearer seven days to the fourth week of Advent. We are waiting and preparing as we anticipate Christ's birth and experience the profound joy that emanates from the fulfillment of God's promise.The Advent Candle of Joy — its origins. Although Christians have presented several reasons for the pinkish nature of the candle, from a tradition where priests would wear pink vestments to parents eagerly awaiting the joy of a child's arrival by painting the room pink, the rosy candle has its roots in something known as Gaudete Sunday (https://www.bible studytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-is-the-third-advent-candles-meaning.html).The word 'gaudete' is derived from the Latin words 'gaudium,' meaning joy, and 'gaudeo,' to rejoice or be glad. Gaudete Sunday, being just eight to 13 days before Christmas, marks a joyful midpoint in the season of anticipation before Christmas. The nearness of celebrating the birth of our Christ Jesus — is the reason for great joy.Various writers have given different explanations for why the third candle is pink. Gaudete is taken from the Entrance Antiphon, referring to joy: 'Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near' (paraphrase, Phil 4:4-5). Gaudete ('Rejoice') is the first word of the introit of this day's Holy Mass, emphasizing our joyful expectation and eager preparation for the Solemnity of Christmas (https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/gaudete-sunday-third-advent-sunday.html). Gaudete Sunday is significant in the liturgical calendar, marking a joyful midpoint in the season of anticipation before Christmas.The Advent Candle as the Shepherd's Candle. Also known as the Shepherd Candle or the Joy Candle, lit during the third week of Advent, highlights 'the joy the shepherds experienced when they received from the angels the good news that Christ was to be born. They received the joyful news during the middle of the night, the darkest time.'With the third week of Advent,' the season is half over. And Jesus' coming — both his first coming, liturgically, and his second coming, historically — is nearer now than it was two weeks ago'(https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/advent-iii-rejoice-god-is-with-us.html).This third week of Advent 'represents a shift in attitude. One moves from hope, repentance, and fear of the coming Judge to rejoicing at the coming of salvation and the kingdom of God as Jesus makes all things new.These Advent rhythms represent shifts that we often experience in our Christian lives.' There are times in this human world when we feel most the 'injustices' which 'are more than we can handle.' There are days 'we anguish over our sin' (https:// www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/advent-iii-rejoice-god-is-with-us.html). During such days 'we long for the day when God will finally defeat the last great enemy, death.'The balm we feel on this third Sunday of Advent 'helps us move out of these moods and into rejoicing because God has come to save us and to be with us, and He will come again.'The third week of Advent and our students. Anticipating His coming again, we feel the joy of His promise fulfilled. He will come again and be with us. We, as teachers, could have brief sessions in between this week to listen to problems that might have been nagging our students' minds.One other action during the third week of Advent: as this semester ends this December, the university leadership could send a timely gesture of gratitude to the university constituents for their dedication to work and study — for their accomplishments this semester. There may have been a stressful week for the final preparation for the coming of an ISO accreditation team. Too there was an academic department that helped students review for their licensure examinations which results reflected well on university teaching and learning. And there was a successful preparation for the recognition of a new degree program.One such letter, a lovely one, was from Jón Atli Benediktsson, rector of the University of Iceland, who sent an advent message to University staff and students dated Dec. 2, 2022 (https://english. hi.is/news/ advent-message-rector). The message opened:'Dear students and colleagues, Advent has begun, with all its light and beauty, softening the darkness of winter here in the far north. Final examinations have also begun at the University of Iceland, the conclusion to a wonderful semester, the first in a long time in which the University could operate as normal. It was incredible to see life return to the University campus and the joy of students and staff as they embraced their work and studies.' The letter expressed gratitude for the various activities accomplished during the term. Here's how the message ended: 'Dear students and colleagues: It is at this time of year that we truly understand the power of the light, shining out ever the brighter in the darkness. Although the sun sinks lower and lower with each passing day, Advent is nonetheless the season of light. We must remember to let that light into our hearts.'Takeaways. On this third Sunday before the birth of our Savior, the churches want to highlight the importance of joy during the Advent season. During this time of a VUCA world, where complex problems face startups and even large companies impacted by the much-needed products that warring countries have ceased exporting, businesses undergo depression. Added to these are the thousands of our countrymen hungry, homeless, or either killed by human hands or lost amidst torrential rains and hurricanes. These months are 'at an all-time high, and people seem to be in the most despair' — however, 'this candle offers a bright light during a dark time.'Teresita Tanhueco-Tumapon, PhD, one of the Philippines' most accomplished educators and experts on higher education institutional management, studied at top universities in the Philippines, Germany, Britain and Japan. She held top academic positions at Xavier University, the Ateneo de Cagayan; was presidential appointee after EDSA 1986 to normalize campus operations in state institutions; and served 17 years after that as SUC president. She is an Internationalization Office consultant and professorial lecturer at Liceo de Cagayan University. Awards include the CHEd Lifetime Professional Achievement Award, the British Council Valuable Services Recognition Award, the Federal Republic of Germany Order of Merit, and the Department of Education award for her initiatives as a pioneer member of the Philippine Teacher Education Council.ttumapon@liceo.edu.ph
