Synopsis of Advent III (Dec 13) Homily on Lk 3:10-18 (L/15) Introduction: Homily on Immaculate Conception is attached. Today is called “Gaudete” Sunday because today’s Mass begins with the opening antiphon, “Gaudete in Domino semper” (“Rejoice in the Lord always”). Today we light the rose candle of the Advent wreath and the priest may wear rose vestments to express our communal joy in the coming of Jesus, as our Savior. We rejoice because a) we are celebrating the day of Golden Goose California Sneakers Sale Christ’s birth, b) we recognize his daily presence in our midst and c) we wait for his return in glory. The theme of today’s readings is the command “Rejoice!” We are to do so mainly by realizing the presence of Jesus in our midst and by receiving him into our lives through our repentance, our renewal of life and our doing of God’s will.
Scripture lessons: In today’s first reading, the prophet Zephaniah encourages Jerusalem and Israel to shout out for the joy of expecting its deliverance from the Lord. In today’s Responsorial Psalm (Is 12), the prophet gives the same instruction, “Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.” St. Paul echoes this message of joy in the second reading, a letter written from imprisonment: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again, rejoice…” In theGospel today, John the Baptist explains the secret of Christian joy as our wholehearted commitment to God’s way by the doing of His will. According to John, happiness comes from doing our duties faithfully, doing good for others and sharing our blessings with others. John’s call to repentance is a call to joy and restoration. Repentance means a change in the purpose and direction of our lives. John tells the people to act with justice, charity and honesty, letting their lives reflect their transformation. For us, that transformation occurs when Christ enters our lives, and it is to be reflected in our living in the ways John suggested.
Life Messages: 1) We are called to a change of life. First we should examine our relationships with others. We must mend ruptures and frictions, face family responsibilities, work honestly and treat employees justly. Our domestic and social lives must be put in order. We must abandon our selfish thirst for consumption and, instead, be filled with the expectation of Jesus’ coming.
2) We need to remember that we are, like John the Baptist, Christ’s precursors: Parents, teachers and public servants act as Christ’s precursors by repenting of their sins, reforming their lives and bringing Christ into the lives of those entrusted to their care. Parents are expected to instill in their children a true Christian spirit and an appreciation for Christian values by their own lives and behavior. All public servants are to remember that they are God’s instruments and that they are to lead the people they serve to the feet of Jesus, so that they, too, may know him personally and accept him as their Savior, Lord and Brother.
Advent III [C] (Dec 13) Zep 3:14-18a; Phil 4:4-7; Lk 3:10-18 Anecdote: #1: “Don’t you give out warnings?” Patricia Greenlee tells a story about her son who is a West Virginia state trooper. Once he stopped a woman for going 15 miles an hour over the speed limit. After he handed her a ticket, she asked him, “Don’t you give out warnings?” “Yes, ma’am,” he replied. “They’re all up and down the road. They say, ‘Speed Limit 55.’” People have a tendency to disregard the warning signs, don’t they? Sometimes that has dire consequences. Today’s Gospel presents John the Baptist warning the Jews with prophetic courage of their need for repentance and conversion.
#2: South Padre Island causeway tragedy: A few years ago, a barge hit a support beam on the causeway going from Port Isabel to South Padre Island in far south Texas. As a result, a portion of the causeway plunged into the Laguna Madre. This all happened during the very early morning hours. Before any indication of this accident was conveyed to anybody, seven or eight automobiles drove through the opening and plummeted into the water several hundred feet below. Every person in those cars died. It took several hours before authorities on both ends of the causeway were notified and all traffic warned of the disaster and the tragedy. It was a horrible event. Even worse, business on the island suffered greatly, as this bridge was the only way for trucks, cars or vacationers to reach the island. Many were angry that plans needed to be canceled, businesses had to be shut down, and only ferries could be used to get to and depart from the island. Now if we had been heading for South Padre Island that morning, would we not have rejoiced that the warning was there and that we had been warned, not left to discover, tragically, the reason for the emptiness of the broken causeway? In today’s Gospel, John is warning a “brood of vipers” that they have to repent and renew their lives, if they are to receive the long awaited Messiah into their midst.
#3: #3: John was no goose preacher: Soren Kierkegaard the famous philosopher of Denmark has a famous fable about geese. The geese in a certain farmyard decided to gather together every seventh day. At that time one of the ganders would mount the fence and preach to his fellow geese about their lofty destiny. The pulpit goose would recall the exploits of their forefathers and praise God for the gift of flight bestowed upon them. The congregation of fowl would flap their wings in hearty agreement. This routine happened every week. After each assembly the geese would break up and waddle to their respective places in the farmyard and eat the grain the kind farmer had scattered on the ground for them. On Monday morning the geese would chat about Sunday’s sermon and discuss what might happen if they took to the skies once again. They might get lost or even worse, they might get shot. There was little doubt among them that the best thing was to linger in the farmyard with its security. The sermons would stir them and that was sufficient. It was good to hear what they could be and do as long as they need not do it or be it. All the while they didn’t realize they were being fattened for the holiday tables of the farmer and his friends. That not only happened in a fable on fowl, but can happen all too frequently in a Church service on Sunday. The people were told simply what they must do. When John was through preaching, the people asked Nike Air Max 1 Essential questions about deeds … what they should do. They had been so guided in their thoughts that they were prompted by God’s Spirit to do that which was pleasing to the Lord.
Introduction: Today is called “Gaudete” Sunday because today’s Mass begins with the opening antiphon, “Gaudete in Domino semper” (“Rejoice in the Lord always”). Today we light the rose candle of the Advent wreath and the priest may wear rose vestments to express our communal joy in the coming of Jesus, as our Savior. The theme of the third Sunday of Advent is rejoicing in hope. Advent is a time for joy, not only because we are anticipating the anniversary of the birth of Jesus, but also because God is already in our midst. Christian joy does not come from the absence of sorrow, pain or trouble, but from an awareness of the presence of Christ within our souls. In today’s first reading, the prophet Zephaniah says, “Shout for joy, O Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel.” Zephaniah made this prophetic proclamation at the height of the Jewish exile when things appeared hopeless and unbearable. In today’s Responsorial Psalm (Is 12), the prophet gives the same instruction, “Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.” St. Paul echoes the same message of joy in the second reading, takenfrom his letter to the Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again, rejoice… The Lord is in your midst… Fear not… be not discouraged… The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all…” Paul was imprisoned when he made this appeal for rejoicing. In the Gospel today, John the Baptist explains the secret of Christian joy as wholehearted commitment to God’s way by doing His will. A sad Christian is a contradiction in terms. According to the Baptizer, happiness comes from doing our duties faithfully, doing good for others and sharing our blessings with others. John’s call to repentance is a call to joy and restoration. Repentance means a change in the purpose and direction of our lives. Filled with joyful expectation that the Messiah was near, the people asked John, “What should we do?” He told them to act with justice, charity and honesty, letting their lives reflect their transformation. For us, that transformation occurs when Christ enters our lives, and it is to be reflected in our living in the ways John suggested.
First reading, Zephaniah 3:14-18: Most Bible scholars believe that Zephaniah prophesied about 600 years before Jesus was born, while King Josiah was trying toreform Judaism. Zephaniah’s prophecy is four parts doom and violent gloom, and one part hope. Our reading today is from the hopeful finale, encouraging people to rejoice because the Lord has withdrawn his judgments and given the victory to his people. Zephaniah is speaking to a people who have been burdened with war, destruction and displacement. Their lives have been assaulted and their hopes have been dashed. This is how he explains the reasons they will have for rejoicing: “The Lord has removed the judgment against you” (in other words, God has forgiven them); and “the King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst” (that is to say, God is with them); “you have no further misfortune to fear” (i.e., He delivers them from evil). The prophet concludes by giving the assurance, “He will rejoice over you and renew you in His love” (He loves you and wants to reconcile you to Himself). The whole reading gives us the same assurance. Skepticism about war and terrorism, and the erosion of moral values, need not prevent us from trusting that God will encircle us with love and will grant us the peace we so desperately seek.
Second Reading, : The entire letter emphasizes the relationships which the followers of Jesus are expected to develop. Paul was very fond of, and confident in, the Philippian Christians because they belonged to the first church that Paul established on European soil, in the Roman province of Macedonia. Previously, Paul had preached the Gospel in Philippi and founded a small community of Christians there. Having been persecuted and beaten by the Pharisees, however, he had been forced to leave. Now, writing from prison (perhaps in Ephesus), awaiting trial, and with his helper Epaphroditus seriously ill, Paul can still command the Philippians to “Rejoice.” Since they believe that Jesus will return very soon in glory to judge the world (“The Lord is near”), Paul feels the need to bolster their courage. He reminds the Philippians and us that the Lord Jesus is the motive and guarantee of our joy, which is to be shared with everyone in the form of kindness and serenity. He encourages the Philippians to be kind to all, to rejoice without any anxiety and to raise prayers of petition and thanksgiving to God in order to enable their hearts to be filled with the peace of God. Paul reminds us, too, that God’s presence in our world not only gives us a reason to rejoice, it also gives us a reason to relate kindly to those around us. Fr. Tony de Mello says in his book, Awareness, “We have everything we need here and now to be happy. The problem is that we identify our happiness with people or things we don’t have and often can’t have.”
Exegesis: John’s central message: repentance leading to renewal of life: John preached fervently, urging his listeners to make preparations for the coming of the Messiah. Even though John’s preaching was characterized by scathing criticism, his call for reform is still described by Luke as “the Good News,” because the arrival of the Messiah will initiate a new reign of forgiveness, healing and salvation. The repentance which John preached called for a change in behavior and not just regret for the past. According to Scott Hahn “Repentance” translates a Greek word, metanoia (literally, “change of mind”). It means a radical life-change involving a two-fold “turning” – away from sin (see ; ) and toward God (see ; ). It requires “good fruits as evidence of our repentance” (see ). That’s why John told the crowds, soldiers and tax collectors they must prove their Faith through works of charity, honesty and social justice. John demanded that men should share their goods with one another, emphasizing the principle of social justice that God will never absolve the man who is content to have too much while others have too little. John also insisted that a man should not leave his job to work out his own salvation. Instead, he should do his job as it should be done. He called people to fidelity in the very circumstances of their lives. Let the tax-collector be a good tax-collector and let the soldier be a good soldier. In other words, it was a man’s duty to serve God where God had set him. “Bloom where you are planted,” St. Francis De Sales used to say. We are expected to become transformational agents where we are. But if the work Southampton Kits 2017/18 environment is such that we are unable to deal honestly and fairly with other people, we should probably find a new job. No wonder, John’s stirring message created a restless yearning for God in the hearts of the crowd, prompting them to ask the eager question, “What should we do?” People from every walk of life thronged to him. While some, no doubt, came out of curiosity, others were clearly motivated by religious fervor, and sought John’s advice about the direction their lives should take. So he had a message for each group of listeners.
Instructions to the general public: John told the ordinary people to share what they had – their clothes and food – with those who were in need. If they were Nike Air Max 90 Print Orange really sorry for their sins, that is, if they really wanted to change their lives, they would become brothers and sisters to all others, including strangers. We might consider what we could share with others this Christmas.
Instructions to the tax collectors: John preached against greed, selfishness and the abuse of power and position. The tax collectors, to whom the Baptizer speaks here, worked for a person like Zacchaeus (Luke 19:2), a “chief” tax collector who bid for the right to collect taxes and to make his profit from what remained after he had first paid Rome’s portion. So the Baptizer addressed mainly the employees of the chief tax collectors and urged them to be satisfied with “the amount prescribed for you” (Luke 3:13), that is, their commission.
Advice to the soldiers: There were no Roman legions stationed in Palestine at this time, and Palestinian Judeans had been exempt from service in Roman armies since the time of Julius Caesar. These soldiers, therefore, were Judean men enlisted in the service of Herod Antipas. They were despised because they worked for Rome’s puppet king and strove to enforce the will of Rome, the occupying power, upon their fellow-Jews. The Baptizer advised them not to practice extortion or blackmail, but to be content with their pay, or rations and provisions.
Life Messages: 1) We are called to a change of life. John the Baptist, the stern and uncompromising preacher, challenges our superficial attempts at change, demanding that we take a deeper look. Obeying the commandments is a good start, but we must then examine our relationships with others. We must mend ruptures and frictions, face family responsibilities, work honestly and treat employees justly. Start where you are, John says. Our domestic and social lives must be put in order. John’s voice is sober and runs counter to the intoxicating voices around us. He calls for rectitude and social consciousness. We must abandon our selfish thirst for consumption, and instead, be filled with the expectation of Jesus’ coming. Hence, let us celebrate the memory of Jesus’ first advent at Bethlehem, prepare for his daily advent in our lives through his presence within us and in people around us, and wait for his third advent or “second coming” (“Parousia”) at the end of the world, with joyful expectation.
2) We need to remember that we are, like John the Baptist, Christ’s precursors: Parents, teachers and public servants are also Christ’s precursors, carrying out the mission of bringing to Christ those entrusted to their care. Parents are expected to instill in their children a true Christian spirit and an appreciation for Christian values by their own lives and behavior. Teachers, too, have to play the role of John the Baptist. A Christian teacher must be always aware of being Christian in the presence of students, whatever the subject being taught, so that his or her Christian personality may leave a lasting impression on his or her students. All public servants are to remember that they are God’s instruments and that they are to lead the people they serve to the feet of Jesus, so that they may know Him personally as Savior, Lord and Brother. A nurse is not to hold back compassion from those deemed “not worthy.” A teacher is to teach with enthusiasm and love. A salesperson is not to present the product as more valuable than it is, nor to overcharge people for products or services. Leaders are not to hold themselves above others. Anyone who has more of Golden Goose Deluxe Brand Sale anything than he or she needs should share it.
3) What should we do in preparation for Christmas? This is the same question the Jews asked John. His answer, to them and to us, is the same: repent and reformyour lives, and prayerfully wait for the Messiah. Our Blessed Mother, in her many apparitions, urgently calls us to more fervent prayer. Let us remember that the Mass is the most powerful of prayers. We must be a Eucharistic people, living and experiencing the presence of Jesus in our hearts. Let us remember that conversion is through Jesus, whom we encounter in the Sacraments. Regular monthly Confession makes us strong and enables us to receive more grace in the Eucharist. Let us read the Bible and pray the Rosary daily. We might also fast once a week all year round, rather than just in Advent and Lent; after all, we sin all year round! Let us have the courage of our Christian convictions to turn off TV programs that show explicit sexual behavior, violence and the use of foul language. Let us spend some time every week in adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Let us forgive those who offend us and pray for them. Finally, let us share our love with others as selfless and humble service. “Do small things but with great love” (Mother Teresa).
Joke of the week:
#1: “He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none” (Lk 3: 11): I once heard of a Christian speaker who declared rhetorically, expecting the answer “Yes”‘: “If you had two houses, you would give one to the poor, wouldn’t you?” “Yes,” said the man to whom the question was directed, “indeed I would.” “And if you had two cars,” went on the speaker, “you would keep one and give the other away?” “Yes, of course,” said the man. “And if you had two shirts, you would give one away?” “Hey, wait a minute,” said the man, “I’ve got two shirts.”
# 2: Usher Seats Pastor’s Mother: An elderly woman walked into the local country church. A friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped her up the flight of steps. “Where would you like to sit?” he asked. “The front row please,” she answered. “You really don’t want to do that,” the usher said. “The pastor is really boring with his long Advent homilies.”