III
Sunday in Advent:[A]:Is35:1-6.10; Jas5:7-10; Mt11:2-11
Introduction: Today’s readings invite us to rejoice at the rebirth
of Jesus in our lives as we are preparing for our annual Christmas celebration.
Today is called Gaudete Sunday because today’s Mass begins
with the opening antiphon: “Gaudete in domino semper,” i.e., “Rejoice in
the Lord always.” So, to express our joy in the coming of Jesus as our savior
into our hearts and lives, we light the rose candle in the Advent wreath.
Exegesis: In
today’s Gospel Jesus speaks about John the Baptist. He asks the people,
“What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the
wind?.....A prophet?......And more than a prophet.....”
Hebrew scriptures presents many prophets. The prophets were dynamic. They challenged people to listen, to change and to follow. Some stood up to kings to support justice, like Nathan did when he told King David that he had sinned against God and Uriah when he stole Uriah’s wife and then had Uriah killed. Elijah did something similar when he stood up to King Ahab accusing him of having the just man Nabaoth killed because he wanted Nabaoth's vineyard. The prophet Samuel anointed Saul to be a king and then, after Saul did not carry out God's, he anointed David.
Some prophets spoke in symbolic ways, like Hosea. He took Gomer, a prostitute, as a wife. She was unfaithful to him as a sign of how the people had responded to God’s gifts. Some prophets were members of the King’s court, like Jeremiah; others were everyday people, like Amos, a trimmer of Sycamore trees. The prophets were differed one for the other, but their message was always the same, “Repent and Reform.”
This message was continued by John the Baptist as he called people to the Lord. He didn’t hedge on the truth. He didn’t tell people what he thought they wanted to hear. He didn’t go along with the morality or immorality of the day. He was not a reed shaken by the wind. He proclaimed the truth. And the truth attracted people. His baptism was a baptism of repentance, and people willing plunged into the
The
world needs prophets. The world needs people who will live the Truth of God as
well as proclaim His Truth. We need prophets. And we need to be prophets
for others. Our courage to live our faith will bring others to joy. We pray today for the courage to live our
faith, the courage to be Prophets of the Truth, the courage to be prophets of
the Lord.
Joke: 1)
A man who thought he was John the Baptist was disturbing the neighborhood, so
for public safety, he was committed. He was put in a room with another
crazy one. The new inmate immediately began his routine, "I am John
the Baptist! Jesus Christ has sent me!" The other guy looked at him
and declared, "I did not!"
Life messages: 1) We
need to learn how to survive a faith crisis: If John the Baptist, even after having
had a direct encounter with Jesus, the Messiah, had his doubts about Jesus and
his teachings, we, too, can have our crises of faith. On such occasions, let us remember the
truth that all our Christian dogmas are based on our trusting faith in the
divinity of Jesus who taught them, and on his divine authority which he gave to
his Church to teach what he taught. Hence, it is up to us to learn our faith in
depth and so to remove our doubts.
2) “Go and tell others what you
hear and see.” We rejoice at the thought that Jesus
is going to be reborn in our lives, deepening in us His gifts of love, mercy,
forgiveness and the spirit of humble and sacrificial service during this
Christmas season. Hence, let us joyfully share God’s bountiful grace,
forgiveness, and mercy with others. What Jesus commanded John’s
disciples, he commands us as well: Go
and tell others what you hear and see. This means that we have to
share with others our experience of the rebirth of Jesus within us,
3) We need to open our hearts and let
God transform our lives: Today’s
readings remind us that our lives can also be transformed if we are patient and
place our trust in God. The message of Advent is that God is present among
us, in our everyday lives. We must prepare our hearts to recognize and
welcome Him by allowing a metánoia (a change of thinking about God,
ourselves, and the world) to take place in us during Advent.
Third Sunday in Advent: Introduction
Message: In the person of Jesus, God has come to heal and save
us. Patiently, yet joyfully, we await
the fulfillment of his advent.
Saints and Events in this Week: 21-Twenty
First-Saturday-Saint Peter Canisius, priest, doctor of the Church.
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