The theme of this 3rd Sunday of the Advent is JOY; this is also called Gaudate Sunday which means to REJOICE. Sometimes back a person in a TV interview said “I am really afraid, I don’t know what is going to happen to this world”REALITY TODAY
Looking at our world around, we observe a lack of Integrated Human Development. There are challenges of Basic Health, Malnutrition, the problem of Migrants, Farmers suicide, Communal Violence, Eco.Crisis, wide-spread Corruption, Injustice and the impact of Covid. Looking at this bleak situation, we tend to ask: Is this world going to last? What is the way out? Is there an end to all these problems?
INVITATION TO REJOICE
THE LITURGY of today invites us to REJOICE. How can we Rejoice when we are surrounded by challenging situations? The Readings of today give us an Answer. They are calling us to Rejoice at the coming of Salvation. Joy doesn’t come from the temporal things. St. John Paul II said, if you Dream of Happiness, seek Jesus, nothing else in the world can satisfy us.
The 1st Reading, describes the presence of Prophet Isaiah who appears during the turbulent situation of Israel while they were in Exile. He gives them the message of Hope and Freedom. His mission was similar to the Mission given to Moses, a mission of Good tidings for the Poor, Liberty to the Captives and Healing to the Broken-Hearted, a mission similar to the one Jesus proclaimed.
The 2nd Reading, explains how the people at Thessalonica joyfully received the Word proclaimed by the Apostles. Paul encourages them to rejoice always and advises them to persevere in Faith and Prayer. He tells them to thank God in all Circumstances and wait for the FULLNESS OF JOY in His Second coming.
JOHN THE BAPTIST: THE JOYFUL WITNESS
The Gospel of John, presents JOHN THE BAPTIST, who proclaims very clearly, that Christ the Light is coming into the world, and therefore we have all the reasons to REJOICE, for he dispels the Darkness of sin that is ruining the world.
Today’s Gospel presents him as a model for us Christians: especially His Littleness.1. The Jews were longing for the Messiah to establish their Kingdom. So they sent the Priests and Levites to ask John the Baptist, who he was?
2. They were looking for Elijah to come and restore the old order. So they asked him, was he the Elijah?
3. They were also expecting a prophet like Moses to liberate them. So they asked him, Were you the Prophet?
To all these enquiries, John the Baptist, gives a Negative Testimony about himself saying, I am not the Christ. I am not Elijah. I am not the Prophet.
The Jews were disappointed to hear these answers and insisted on him to give an answer about his Identity.
The reply John the Baptist gave, revealed what kind of person John was: 1. He was profoundly humble: in total humility he says, I am not worthy to untie his sandals.
2. He understood his Vocation: his Vision and Mission was, to speak for the Light; Make straight ways to prepare for the Lord and calling the people for Repentance and Renewal.
3. He expresses his tremendous love and Respect for Jesus: as one who was greater than him for he would baptize everyone with the Holy Spirit. John recognized that, it is Jesus who must be believed, honoured and proclaimed. “He must increase and I must decrease”.
This season of Advent calls us to become aware of our own IDENTITY as, who we are and what is our Role as Christians in today’s world. John the Baptist points out that the Messiah who is going to come, needs to be recognized as one who comes to us in every moment of our life. Vatican II document on Liturgy, Sacrasantum Concillium says: the Lord comes to us in 4 ways:
- Through the Word of God – It is his consoling presence.
- Through the Eucharist- it is his living presence.
- Through the Church – in our Fraternal Gathering.
- Through the Minister- revealed in his life and service.
The Challenge for us today:
- To live the prophetic spirituality and to proclaim His word in a Divided world, through a life of witness like John the Baptist.
- To live the Spirituality of Kenosis, total surrender and emptying of ourselves for Christ.
- To live a spirituality of Involvement: Thomas Merton says “our task today is not so much to speak about Jesus but to be Jesus”.
May this Advent help us to LIVE JOY and make visible, the Marvels of God to the whole world.
Fr. Michael Sagayaraj SMM