December 16, 2018

3rd Sunday of Advent C
Zephaniah 3: 14-18; Philippians 4: 4-7;
Luke 3: 10-18
Can one love without smiling? Does
developing a sense of humor and laughter
help one be in touch with God’s love? Is
God more concerned with rules or living a
life of love? Am I more aware of God when I
follow rules or when I am living love? Have
we ever spent time looking at our ability to
laugh and our sense of humor? Do we tend to
be much more serious with ourselves? A very
serious question and even larger reflection is
what makes me happy? Is it material things?
Is it companionship and relationships?
Today’s readings are about happiness. All of
us want to be happy. Why is happiness so
elusive? What is the secret of happiness?
Have we ever considered Jesus as being a
happy person? Have we ever seen Jesus’
sense of humor in Scripture stories?
Numerous times I have had masses where I
have spoken just to the little ones. Often I tell
them that Jesus talked about love and I asked
them what was Jesus face like when He
talked about love? Was it mean looking? No,
they say? Was it sad looking? No, they
responded? They said No He was smiling
and laughing. ‘Out of the mouth of babes…’
Psalm 8:2 states “Out of the mouth of babes and
infants you have drawn a defense against your
foes, to silence enemy and avenger.” Matthew
21:12 recounts the Cleansing of the Temple.
“And Jesus said to them, ‘It is written: My house
shall be a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a
den of thieves.’ The blind and the lame
approached Him in the temple area, and He cured
them. When the chief priests and scribes saw the
wondrous things He was doing, and the children
crying out in the temple area, ‘Hosanna to the Son
of David,’ they were indignant and said to Him, ‘Do
you hear what they are saying?’ Jesus said to
them, ‘Yes and have you never read the text, ‘Out
of the mouths of infants and nurslings you have
brought forth praise’?” (Mt 21: 13-16)
This third Sunday of Advent is traditionally
called Gaudete Sunday - a rejoicing reflected
in the rose vestments and the choice of
Scriptures. We are more than halfway
through our season of vigilance and
preparation and prayer. We are looking
forward once again to both celebrating the
coming of Christ in history and looking
forward to His return in glory. For us
Christians, we readily understand how
rejoicing is at the heart of our faith. Even if
we are struggling with life’s issues, we are
called to be people of joy and to share that joy
with others. Do I do this? What holds me
back? Now what does this ‘spirit of joy’ look
like? How can I ‘get it’? Spiritual joy
emerges from our interior life…our
relationship with our Loving God.
Zephaniah twice in today’s short reading
announces that God is in the midst of His
people. Countless times, Moses told the
people journeying to the Promised Land that
God loves them, cares for them and is always
with them. God had carefully arranged for
the construction of the ark of the covenant
and the meeting tent. This assured the people
of God’s presence, protection and constant
love. It’s interesting in the first line of today’s
reading , Zephaniah encouragers ‘daughter
Zion’ to sing joyfully. In the last line God joins
them in singing joyfully, “…He will rejoice over
you with gladness, and renew you in HIs love, He
will sing joyful because of you, as one sings at
festivals.”
Paul is telling the Philippians, not to be
anxious. Go to God…bring our concerns.
“The Lord, your God, is in your midst. What else
could one need. Paul reminds the community
to be kind and generous because their faith
tells them to look beyond this passing world
and keep focused on eternity. Paul tells them
and us that if we turn to God in prayer and
gratitude we will find strength through the
Holy Spirit to face any challenges that come
up in life. Paul applauds this community for
being people of joy as can be seen in verses
8-9 that follow todays reading. “Finally,
whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever
is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and
if there is anything worthy of praise, think about
these things. Keep on doing what you have
learned and received and heard and seen in me.
Then the God of peace will be with you.”
So what should we be doing? This is the exact
question that is being asked of John the
Baptist today. The people who had been
listening to him were not the religious and
political officials. These people did not pay
attention to John at all. The people who made
the long trek to the area near Jericho and very
close to the Dead Sea endured rough roads
and high temperatures. They came because
they heard that this man was a special prophet
and he made sense. He didn’t pull any
punches and he was real, unlike the
hypocritical religious. The three groups who
took John seriously were the crowds, tax
collectors and soldiers. John gave the same
advice to all of them: ‘Examine your lives…
engage in ethical reform…be concerned with
doing the right with love…they should love
their neighbors as themselves and thus share
their food and clothing with those in need.
Tax collectors were to avoid the many
corruptible practices that had become
acceptable…and soldiers were not to abuse
their power. All are to be honest and just.’
This is good practical advice for each of us
too. The people knew these words were
honest and true…and they wondered if John
was the Messiah. “One mightier than I is
coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of
His sandals.”
Today’s Scripture passages build us up. We
are important, we are special. Most of all, we
are loved by God every single moment. God
is with us and never, ever abandons us. God
is always present and I don’t have to be good
to have God with me. God also finds joy in
each person. God wants to thank you and me
for the love we give…for the help we share…
to touching the lost, lonely, hurt…God love
us for this and for all unconditionally.
Fr. Henri Nouwen said that the single most
important identity that each person has is
being God’s beloved. He writes: “Joy is the
experience of knowing that you are unconditionally
loved and that nothing—sickness, failure,
emotional distress, oppression, war, or even death
—can take that love away.”
So I reflect on:
• How might John the Baptist answer me
when I ask, ‘What should I do?’
• What brings sure joy and gladness to my
heart?
• I reflect on the laugher and joy of little
children in there waiting for Christmas.
• Are the holidays a particularly hectic time
for me? What do I let take control? How
can I manage to remain focused on God?
• What is most in need of transformation in
my life?
Sacred Space 2019 states
“John, the cousin of Jesus, is a challenging
figure. He, the messenger of God, is the
sharpened arrow whose words pierce to the
heart’s core. Some people listened to his
uncompromising message and changed the
direction of their lives. But others resisted.
Lord, this Advent, give me a welcoming heart.
Help me be open to the messengers of Your word,
especially to whose whom, at first glance, I might
resist, for they are Your prophets today. They urge
me to change my way of thinking and living