The Third Sunday of Advent
Intention: That we all might rediscover the joy of simplicity in living and make of this Advent a season of hospitality and generosity to those in need.
Today’s Gospel | Luke 3:10-18
The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What then should we do?” He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two tunics should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?” He told them, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.”
Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.
Reflection for the Third Sunday of Advent
In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist finds himself in the position of trying to help people unused to examining their own sinfulness understand where their salvation lies. If they were hoping for easy penance, then they most likely were disappointed. True to his call to repentance, John tells them that they must change their hearts and change what they are doing. They must turn away from hurting others and commit to loving them. It was time for a new age.
We are familiar with the season of Christmas being linked to the image of Santa Claus checking his list of inventories of our behavior. Have we been naughty or nice? Regrettably, this has been reduced to the cliché of getting little children to eat their vegetables and pick up their rooms. This is regrettable because the true spirit of the season harkens back to the scriptures’ prophetic urgings for people to examine honestly their own fidelity to God’s ways. It is an opportunity for us to follow in the steps of all who have heard and answered that admonition to faithfulness, to be part of ushering in forever the Lord’s year of favor, when good news will come to the afflicted, healing to the brokenhearted, liberty to captives, freedom to prisoners.
Author and professor Cornell West has said, “To be human, you must bear witness to justice. Justice is what love looks like in public.” The God who saves is the God who does justice. Those who seek to do God’s will must also hear and answer the cries of the poor, the marginalized, the dispossessed, the abused, the exploited. Advent challenges us to move beyond love as a gentle sentiment for those who suffer and on to love as compassion expressed through solidarity, advocacy, and sacrifice. The Incarnation that we celebrate on Christmas tells us that the way to be for others is to be with them.
Prayer
Eternal Father, as the birth of our Lord approaches, we wait anxiously for the light and life and love that he will bring. Help us to make ourselves ready to receive these saving gifts, so that we will be their bearers to people everywhere, especially those who are so often rejected or forgotten in our world. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.