The readings for the Third Sunday of Advent - Year C may be found at:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121221.cfm
This weekend we celebrate Gaudete Sunday, which means, “joyful Sunday”.
It’s that time of year when clergy wear rose-colored vestments.
I know that to the untrained eye, it looks pink, but take my word for it - it’s rose and it’s worn to represent the joy and gladness we should all feel because Salvation is coming to light up the world.
Because, Jesus is coming. And pink, well, is just pink.
We are joyful this weekend, because our Savior is about to come on Christmas and through His birth, lift up all of humanity and save us from the power of darkness.
A reason for all of us to be joyful, indeed.
That same spirit is reflected in our readings at Holy Mass today.
Both the Prophet Zephaniah and Saint Paul, tell us that we are to “Shout for Joy”, “To be glad and exult with all our heart”, to rejoice because the Lord is near.
But I think it’s important for each of us to reflect on this next point.
Our Lord may be near. We may be close to Christmas…but are we close to Christ?
We’ve made great progress on our Christmas shopping, menus and holiday plans.
Our lists are made and we’ve checked them twice, because we are close to Christmas.
But are we close to Christ?
And what does it mean - exactly, to be close to Christ?
I think Saint John helps explain it in the Gospel.
When asked by the crowds, “What should we do?” John the Baptist, moves them to action - to what they can do to make way for the Lord.
I’m not sure any of us want to be lounging around waiting for Jesus to come. It reminds me of the old bumper sticker that used to read, “God is coming. Look busy.”
John The Baptist challenges the crowds - and he challenges us.
John The Baptist tells us that to prepare for the coming of Christ,
to live as faithful disciples, we have to do things that show our closeness to Him, because actions speak louder than words.
This Advent, have we done things that bring us closer to our Lord?
Have we treated people with charity and justice?
Have we been honest in our dealings?
Do we do for others, especially those who can’t do for us in return?
Do we act out of generosity, with honesty, with integrity and with humility?
Do we have a renewed sense of conversion from sin?
Do we have a greater awareness of God among us?
Do we share what we have and not make a federal case out of it?
Speaking of which - I was selected for Jury Duty this past week and will serve on a jury in Boston all week next week. It’s a criminal case. And Saint John got me thinking.
If it were a crime to be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, if our actions were truly necessary to prepare the way for the coming of our Lord - would we have done enough this Advent to be found guilty?
Can anyone tell, by watching us and what we do outside the walls of this Church, that we bear the mark of Christ and are living as His faithful disciples?
I know I have some work to do to meet that standard.
Have we made a good examination of conscience?
Have we made a good sacramental confession or plan to make one before Christmas?
Christmas is less than two weeks away.
Much like John The Baptist, our job is to make way for the Lord by our actions.
This week, let us pray that we can move from having generous hearts to concrete, unselfish acts of compassion.
Let us pray that our faith and repentance be genuine and move us in ways that make the love, kindness and mercy that our God has for every living person -
visible and real for everyone we come in contact with.
And if we do that.
Not only will Christmas be close,
but we will be close to Christ.
Happy Gaudete Sunday!
