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Year - B

 Homily for the Third Sunday of Advent

READ: (Isa 61: 1-2, 10-11; 1 Thes 5: 16-24; Jn 1: 6-8, 19-28)

REFLECT:  walk towards the Road that leads to real Joy - Jesus

Dear friends, today we are in the third Sunday of season of Advent. The third Sunday of advent is also called as Gaudete or Rejoice Sunday. The word ‘Gaudete in Latin means ‘rejoice’, which reminds us that God loves us still and we eagerly wait and hasten to his coming with great joy. The word ‘Gaudete’ rejoice is taken the introductory antiphon of the third Sunday of Advent, which begins with the words, “Rejoice in the Lord always…” Gaudete or rejoice Sunday marks  the mid-way nearing to celebrate Christmas, the great event in the history of our world, the birthday of Jesus Christ. We also know that Gaudete Sunday is the counterpart in Lent is Laetare Sunday, marking the mid-way of lent by means of penance and reconciliation to rejoice in the hope of Easter celebration. Today’s entire liturgy of the word focuses on the theme to rejoice in God, to rejoice in the coming of Jesus and to rejoin our hearts united in God to renew life by welcoming Christ into our hearts to be ruled by, directed and guided by him. So based on today’s  word of  God, I would like to share with you three points of reflection as how we could walk towards the real road that leads to real Joy - Jesus;

1. Bring glad tidings of Joy:

Bringing good or glad tidings of joy would mean that one shares the good news that brings joy and happiness in the life of the other or oneself. It is like a messenger of God in the Old and New Testament, where God’s spokes persons were the messengers of glad tidings of joy and the angels as well brought glad tidings of joy in the New Testament about the birth of Jesus, our saviour. So we are called to become messengers, who share the glad and good tidings of joy that God has done or manifested in our lives. Something similar we find in the first reading of the day.

In the first reading, Prophet Isaiah brings glad tidings of joy with the words, “the spirit of the Lord is upon me, anointed me to bring good news to the poor….” Prophet Isaiah prophesies the great act of God and his saving act for his people. The saving act of God would be accompanied by miracles, signs, wonders, grace, power and strength to his beloved people who were in darkness and suffering in exile. In such a exilic situation of the people, who were facing challenges and difficulties in faith and commitment, the Lord assures through the prophet’s words to reach out to them in compassion and kindness. Perhaps, this is great news, good news and glad tidings of joy to people those were suffering in exile, without temple for worship, without territory for their security and without land for their residence.

Today, looking at the passage of Prophet Isaiah’s words into our context, it would definitely be a great and good news for people those who are suffering in various ways. I am sure we all of us are faced with sufferings and suffocation of life in one way or the other. When we consider prophet Isaiah’s words as being said to us personally in our lives, we would experience the saving act of God and healing of God, which would serve us in turn to be God’s children. Most of us are faced with the problems unacceptance of the self, living lives in idleness and pessimism, faithlessness to God for God’s faithfulness. These are the hurdles that hinder us from experiencing the glad tidings of great joy that God offers us through his words and works in our lives. But the moment we are open to God’s liberating power at work in our lives, we would experience freedom from fear, anxiety, oppression and self-imprisonment etc.

Today there are many who are at the margins of the society not only in person but in spirit too. We have become poor, the, blind, deaf, dumb or in prisons or in sin or shame in body and spirit too. It is a message of joy for all such people, because the announcement of God through prophet Isaiah is the assurance of joyful hope that is promised. So as we prepare ourselves to welcome Christ, the Saviour, we need to believe in the assurance of God’s words and promise. At the same time without forgetting, we all need to make it a point in thought and deed as how we can share the glad tidings of joy that God has offered us personally or collectively. Our tendency to keep the joys to oneself without offering to the other leads us to the act of selfishness and to the experience of dryness and lifelessness. So let us make every effort to experience the great tidings of joy from God and share it with one another the joy that God offers us freely and lavishly.

2. Rejoice in God

Rejoice in God would mean to find joy and happiness in all that God gives and sends. It is to experience joy and happiness in God’s words, works and ways. Rejoice in God also underscores the importance of joining hands with God than iin joining hands with the world or the worldly values that deviate us from God. So to rejoice in God would mean to take delight in God and his divine providence. Something similar we find in the second reading from St. Paul’s First letter to Thessalonians. We know that the community of Thessalonica formed by St. Paul was so enthusiastic and zealous about the word of God when it was preached to them. Although, they were faced with the fears and doubts concerning the coming of Jesus for salvation, yet, St. Paul was always in touch with them to strengthen their faith and commitment to God. He did not want them to dissuade from their faith in Jesus nor wished them to lose the track that reaches them to God through Jesus. Thus, the second reading from St. Paul’s letter to Thessalonians offers one such great message of rejoicing in God and also presents to us pointers as how we can rejoice in God, offer unceasing prayers and thanksgiving to God at all circumstances. The second reading from St. Paul’s letter opens with three short phrases, “rejoice in the Lord always, offer unceasing prayers and thanksgiving to God at all circumstances.” Perhaps I consider these three short phrases as practical guidelines to our Christian calling and living.

Firstly, ‘To rejoice in the Lord’ is a first step for realization of the call and life to Christian vocation we have received. Each and every follower of Christ needs to realize and understand that it is in Christ that one is called to rejoice and not in the worldly affairs that offers us temporary happiness and pleasure. It is a firm feel that in God alone or Christ alone is my hope, joy, strength is found. Such convictions will grip us strong in the faith we profess and give us unending joy.

Secondly, ‘To offer unceasing prayers,’ is a second step to realization of the call and life of Christian vocation. It is not that we offer prayers whenever we want or we require rather it is non-stop prayer to God to be deeply and intimately united to God and in Christ. Such an intimacy and deeper union with God and Christ would trigger us to live our Christian vocation meaningfully. Thirdly, ‘To offer thanksgiving in all circumstances,’ is the third step for realization of our call and life to Christian vocation. It is not that we offer thanksgiving to God whenever our prayers answered or favors received rather in all circumstances and at all times. Such an attitude of gratitude to God would fetch in life an added joy and strength, because we offer thanks to God when we rely on God’s divine providence and power.

If we wish and desire to realize fully the call and life of true Christian vocation then we need to give up all that St. Paul tells us to keep aside at the end of the second reading from his First letter to Thessalonians. They are; “do not quench the spirit, do not despise the prophecies but test everything, hold fast what is good and abstain from every form of evil.” Most of us are not in a proper disposition to rejoice in God, offer prayers unceasingly and thanksgiving to God, because we have lost or don’t have deep thirst for the spirit of God; we have despised the prophecies or have not paid attention to the prophecies foretold to us; we have not or don’t hold fast to good but involve in evil ways that kills our spirit and dynamism of life for God.

Today a call to rejoice in the Lord and that too always in the Lord alone, not in the world with its aptitudes, attitudes, values would help and enable us to become Christ’s followers in the world. Today, a call to rejoice is not only at the time of joy but also in sorrow. We need to rejoice in God, hoping and believing in God’s promise. Sometimes we might ask oneself, how we can rejoice in God while we are sorrowful or sad. It is by trusting in God’s words and accepting God’s ways and his will in our lives, one can be still joyful even if situations be sorrowful. A perfect example is Jesus Christ and St. Paul himself, as they learned to rejoice in God at all times during his hard and soft situations of life.

As Pope Francis very beautifully tells us, “Christians are joyful at heart, even in trials. They are joyful because they are close to Jesus. It is he who gives us joy.” Yes, when we are close to Jesus, we can rejoice in God, offer unceasing prayer and thanksgiving to God. So let us realize the nature of Christian vocation and call to fullness of life. I am sure once we are close to God we will be able to rejoice in God; once we are able to rejoice and rejoin God in our spirit, we will be able to make others to rejoice in God as well. Let us rejoice in God and rejoin him in our spirit and faith.

3. Be a joyful witness to Christ:

Being or Bearing witness to Christ would mean that we present Christ as the revealer of the one true God and that we become another Christ (alter christus) by the very life that we live as Christians joyfully. Someone has very beautifully said, “To be a witness to Christ is to demonstrate by our words, actions and attitude the sacred mystery that we have “seen”, heard and believe in our hearts about the Lord who has forgiven us of our sins and offered us eternal life.” yes, every Christian is duty bound to bear witness to Christ and be a witness of Christ in words and deeds, resembling Christ, presenting Christ’s values and living the same values in life, so that others too are inspired to be a follower of Christ and bears witness to Christ. One such great witness is John the Baptist, who is presented to us in the Gospel reading of the day.

In today’s Gospel reading, the word ‘witness’ occurs three times. It asserts the fact and reminds us the role of St. John the Baptist as a witness and testimony to Jesus. The real joy as understood by John the Baptist was to bear witness to Christ by his words and life. A very emphatic answer given by John the Baptist that he is neither Elijah nor prophet but a voice crying out in the wilderness, preparing the way are also an attestation to the fact that he wished to be and bear witness to Christ. So John the Baptist was quite clear, he understood and was satisfied by being a witness to Christ, although he could have deceived people when people approached him and asked him whether he was the ‘Messiah.’ But he didn’t do, because he understood his role was to be and to bear witness to Christ and point out to people the true point Jesus Christ. Therefore it is a reminder for each one of us that true joy is found in life, when we bear witness to Jesus both in words and deeds.

Very beautifully Pope Francis says, “John the Baptist undertook a long journey to come to bear witness to Jesus. The journey of joy is not a walk in the park. It takes work to always be joyful. John left everything in his youth to put God in first place, to listen to His word with all his heart and all his strength… In particular, John the Baptist is a model for those in the church who are called to proclaim Christ to others. They are able to do so only by detaching from themselves and from worldliness, by not attracting people to themselves but directing them toward Jesus.” Yes, John the Baptist did not attract anyone to come close to him rather directed everyone to Christ, so that they are in union with Christ. Therefore, a true witness of Christ does not attract others to oneself for selfish ambition rather directs others to Christ, points out ways and means to move towards Christ. In this regard, all of us would agree that John the Baptist was a true witness of Christ, who found joy in pointing out or directing others to Christ,the first, middle and final point of life.

Today we are called or can become joyful witnesses of Jesus Christ if we could live and reflect His teachings or if we could point out or direct others to Christ. Each and every move that we make, the way we speak or look or think or act need to resemble and reflect Christ in life. Such life-style would be possible, when our lives are intimately united or closely tied to Christ’s life. The intimacy with Christ creates a special bond; the special bond with Christ elicits in us a special love for Christ; the special love for Christ influences our lives to such an impact that we become Christ-like in attitude and approaches, thus we bear witness to Christ and become a witness to Christ in life. The purpose and role of John the Baptist as a mere witness of Christ, the intimacy and a special bond of John the Baptist with Christ enabled him to bear and be a joyful witness of Christ. So let us also understand our purpose, role, intimacy and a special bond with Christ, direct people to Christ and be a joyful witness to Christ in life. Let us also remember that we have lighted the third candle of advent, the candle of joy. Let this candle of joy - JESUS burn brightly in our lives to manifest and witness Jesus, the saviour of the world.

RESPOND:

Do we bring glad tidings of joy to others by way of our words and deeds or make them shed tears causing pain and shame?

Do we rejoice in God’s ways or take delight in worldly ways or values?

Do we bear witness to Christ joyfully by directing others or pointing Christ to others or to oneself for want of fame or growth in selfishness?

So let us walk the road that leads us to real joy Jesus by bringing good and glad tidings of joy, rejoicing in God and bearing witness to Christ joyfully by directing others to Christ alone. Amen.

God bless us all! Live Jesus!

Fr. Ramesh George MSFS

rameshvkmsfs@gmail.com

9500930968