Posted: 12/9/2009 4:57:35 PM EDT
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Sunday, December 13, 2009
Third Sunday of Advent Readings with commentary here. First Reading Zephaniah 3:14-18a 14. Give praise, daughter of Zion. Shout joyfully, Israel. Rejoice and exult with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem. 15. The Lord has taken away your judgment; he has turned aside your foes. The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall no longer fear evil. 16. In that day, it will be said to Jerusalem, “Do not be afraid,” and to Zion, “Do not let your hands be weakened.” 17. The Lord your God is the strength in your midst; he will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness. In his love, he will be silent. He will exult over you with praise. Second Reading Philippians 4:4-7 4. Brothers and Sisters, Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, rejoice. 5. Let your modesty be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6. Be anxious about nothing. But in all things, with prayer and supplication, with acts of thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God. 7. And so shall the peace of God, which exceeds all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Gospel Luke 3:10-18 10. And the crowd was questioning him, saying, “What then should we do?” 11. But in response, he said to them: “Whoever has two coats, let him give to those who do not have. And whoever has food, let him act similarly.” 12. Now the tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13. But he said to them, “You should do nothing more than what has been appointed to you.” 14. Then the soldiers also questioned him, saying, “And what should we do?” And he said to them: “You should strike no one, and you should not make false accusations. And be content with your pay.” 15. Now all were thinking about John in their hearts, and the people were supposing that perhaps he might be the Christ. 16. John responded by saying to everyone: “Indeed, I baptize you with water. But there will arrive one stronger than me, the laces of whose shoes I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit, and with fire. 17. His winnowing fan is in his hand. And he will purify his threshing floor. And he will gather the wheat into the barn. But the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 18. Indeed, he also proclaimed many other things, exhorting the people. Study resources and CCC references here. Overview of the Gospel: * The Third Sunday of Advent is traditionally referred to as “Gaudette (joyful) Sunday, the approximate mid-way point in Advent where the penitential tone of the season temporarily gives way to the joyful hope we have in looking forward to the coming of the Lord. The vestments in the liturgy are replaced this day with rose rather than purple, and the readings (especially the first two readings and the psalm) take on a more hopeful and joyful tone. * This Sunday’s gospel reading is a continuation of last Sunday’s where we met John the Baptist as he is baptizing and preparing people for the coming Messiah. * Between that reading and this Sunday’s, we see John warning the crowds that they must “bear good fruits” that show their repentance (Luke 3:7-9). They are not to rely on their own efforts apart from God’s grace, or on their status as God’s Chosen People, the Jews. * Several times in this passage, we see various people asking John: If they cannot rely on these things “What then should we do?” This is a common question in Luke’s gospel (Luke 3:10, 12, 14; 10:25, 18:18). In Luke’s other inspired work, the Acts of the Apostles, the answer to this question always includes sacramental baptism (Acts 2:37; 16:30; 22:10-16). Questions: * What do the wheat and chaff in verse 17 signify (see Isaiah 29:5-6, 41:16, Jeremiah 15:7; Malachi 3:2-3)? What does John say will happen on the day of judgment to those who are like chaff, rather than wheat (Psalm 1:4-6; Matthew 13:24-30)? * In light of John’s rugged lifestyle and seemingly uncompromising nature (Matthew 3:1-10), how would you rate the severity of his requirements for those who are seeking to know the way of repentance (verses 10-14)? * Compared with the first two readings and the psalm for this Sunday, the message of John the Baptist seems severe. What message of hope and joy can you find in his challenging presentation of the Gospel, the Good News? * In terms of your personal experience, what does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire (verse 16)? How has that Spirit and fire touched your life? * Who have been the John the Baptists in your life—people who have shown you the way, led you to Christ, and encouraged you? * In the context of your own faith journey, if you asked John the Baptist, “What then should we do?” how would he answer? * In keeping with the penitential tone of the remainder of Advent, what one action will you take this week to produce fruit in your life? |
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Gaudete Sunday:
What John the Baptist Teaches us about Humility and Joy Link by: Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio On the third Sunday of Advent, the penitential purple of the season changes to rose and we celebrate “Gaudete” or “Rejoice!” Sunday. “Shout for joy, daughter of Sion” says Zephaniah. “Draw water joyfully from the font of salvation,” says Isaiah. “Rejoice in the Lord always,” says St. Paul. “Do penance for the judge is coming,” says John the Baptist.
Wait a minute. What’s that stark, strident saint of the desert doing here, on “Rejoice Sunday”? His stern call to repentance does not seem to fit. Believe it or not, John the Baptist is the patron saint of spiritual joy. After all, he leapt for joy in his mother’s womb at the presence of Jesus and Mary (Luke 1:44). And it says that he rejoices to hear the bridegrooms voice (John 3:29-30). Now this is very interesting. Crowds were coming to hear John from all over Israel before anyone even heard a peep out of the carpenter from Nazareth. In fact, John even baptized his cousin. This launched the Lord’s public ministry, heralding the demise of John’s career. Most of us would not appreciate the competition. The Pharisees and Sadducees certainly didn’t. They felt threatened by Jesus’ popularity. But John actually encouraged his disciples to leave him for Jesus, the Lamb of God. When people came, ready to honor John as the messiah, he set them straight. He insisted that he was not the star of the show, only the best supporting actor. John may have been center-stage for a while, but now that the star had shown up, he knew it was time for him to slip quietly off to the dressing room. Or to use John’s own example, he was like the best man at a wedding. It certainly is an honor to be chosen as “best man.” But the best man does not get the bride. According to Jewish custom, the best man’s role was to bring the bride to the bridegroom, and then make a tactful exit. And John found joy in this. “My joy is now full. He must increase and I must decrease.” The Baptist was joyful because he was humble. In fact, he shows us the true nature of this virtue. Humility is not beating up on yourself, denying that you have any gifts, talents, or importance. John knew he had an important role which he played aggressively, with authority and confidence. The humble man does not sheepishly look down on himself. Actually, he does not look at himself at all. He looks away from himself to the Lord. Most human beings, at one time or another, battle a nagging sense inadequacy. Pride is sin’s approach to dealing with this. Proud people are preoccupied with self, seeing all others as competitors. The proud have to perpetually exalt themselves over others in hope that this will provide a sense of worth and inner peace. Of course, it doesn’t. Human history has proven that point time and time again. Even the pagan Greek storytellers knew that hubris or pride was the root of tragedy. Pride always comes before the fall, as it did in the Garden of Eden. Humility brings freedom from this frantic bondage. Trying at every turn to affirm, exalt, and protect oneself is an exhausting enterprise. Receiving one’s dignity and self-worth as a gift from God relieves us from this stressful burden. Freed from the blinding compulsion to dominate, we can recognize the presence of God and feel a sense of satisfaction when others recognize that God is God and honor him as such. We can even be free to recognize godliness in someone else and rejoice when others notice and honor this person. But what about John’s stark call to repentance? How this be Good News? Because repentance is all about humility and humility is all about freedom. And freedom leads to inner peace and joy, joy in the presence of the Bridegroom. |
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* In terms of your personal experience, what does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire (verse 16)? How has that Spirit and fire touched your life?
As the Fathers of the Church say, "Christ calls the grace of the Spirit, water, meaning by water the purity resulting from it,....by the word fire, expresses the fervor and uprightness of grace, as well as the consuming of sins." Had it not been for His grace I would not try to live a holy life. It has made me a better husband, dad, and over all better person. * Who have been the John the Baptists in your life—people who have shown you the way, led you to Christ, and encouraged you? Co-workers that I had years ago. Fr. John Carapi now. * In the context of your own faith journey, if you asked John the Baptist, “What then should we do?” how would he answer? Make more time for prayer and the blessed Sacrament. Pray the Rosary more often! * In keeping with the penitential tone of the remainder of Advent, what one action will you take this week to produce fruit in your life? Meditate on the liturgy during Advent. |
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* What do the wheat and chaff in verse 17 signify (see Isaiah 29:5-6, 41:16, Jeremiah 15:7; Malachi 3:2-3)? What does John say will happen on the day of judgment to those who are like chaff, rather than wheat (Psalm 1:4-6; Matthew 13:24-30)?
The wheat is what is kept when the chaff is blown away by the winnowing fan, so the wheat signifies those who are producing fruit and thus will be saved on the day of judgment. The chaff, on the other hand does not fare so well. * Compared with the first two readings and the psalm for this Sunday, the message of John the Baptist seems severe. What message of hope and joy can you find in his challenging presentation of the Gospel, the Good News? When we worship God, we will be conformed to him. Thus, as God is justice, we will then become people of justice - caring for the sick and poor. And as God is love, we will truly love others - becoming selfless and desiring the good of others. And when we are producing that fruit of God's love, we can have hope that we will be the wheat that will be perfectly united with him. * In keeping with the penitential tone of the remainder of Advent, what one action will you take this week to produce fruit in your life? Be more patient with my family. |
