Third Sunday of Advent (C)

(Gaudete Sunday or Joyful Sunday)

December 16, 2018 

Readings:

First Reading: Zephaniah 3: 14-18a

Psalm: Is. 12

Second Reading: Philippians 4: 4-7

Gospel reading according to Luke 3: 10-18

+

Homily:

In this third Sunday of Advent, the evangelist Luke is inviting us to share what extra things we have to those who have none, to be honest to others, to be kind to one another, and love God with all our hearts, soul, mind, and body as we love our neighbors and ourselves, as we prepare for the coming (advent) of our salvation.

In the gospel of Luke, it says that, many classes of people were gathered around John and they listened to his preaching, in the desert.  Many of them, who came from the region of Jordan, were moved with his teaching, so they asked questions to him.  “The crowds asked John the Baptist, ‘What should we do?’  He said to them in reply, ‘Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none.  And whoever has food should do likewise’.” (Lk. 3: 10-11). They would like to know how they would apply his preaching to change their lives in relation to God and to their neighbors and their baptismal life they newly received.  John answered them by telling them to share what they have extra things that they have no longer using or needed them, like clothes, food, etc., to those who have nothing to wear or eat.

A group or class of people present also was the tax collectors who listened to the preaching of John and asked for baptism.  They too would like to know how they would apply in their lives his teaching and their baptismal life they newly received.  “Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’  He answered them, ‘Stop collecting more than what is prescribed’.” (Lk. 3: 12-13).  John answered them to collect what is just, no more no less. They have not to tax people, especially the poor, higher than what is expected for their gain or extra income to enrich themselves from the labor of others.

Another group also present was the soldiers, maybe Jewish and/or Roman soldiers, and listening attentively to the preaching of John.  They too would like to know how they can change their lives for the better after receiving the baptism from John..  “Soldiers also asked him, ‘And what is it that we should do?’ He told them, ‘Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages’.” (Lk. 3: 14).  John told them not to extort and not to use force to get what they want from other people, especially the poor and the weak and the powerless; that they should not censure others by false accusation, and be contented to their salary; no more “kotong” from others.

As if John was saying to the crowds, the tax collectors and soldiers, even to us, everyone must live honorably and respectful life and living.

In return, the crowds are expecting and believing that John is the Messiah, the Christ they are waiting for.  “Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ” (Lk. 3: 15).  John was true to himself; he did not claim what he was not.  He needed to reveal and to tell the truth to the crowds so that they would not expect or presume much about John.  “John answered them all, saying, ‘I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming.  I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire’.” (Lk. 3: 16-17).  John was baptizing water of cleansing and repentance in preparation for the coming of the mighty One.  He was so humble that he even said that he is not worthy to untie the strap of the sandal of the One wearing it.  He also revealed to the crowds that this Someone greater than he is coming and this Someone will baptize them and us with the Holy Spirit and fire, though his winnowing fan (bilao), examining and sorting is ready in his hands to clean us from all our sinfulness and gather us to his Kingdom prepared for us; but, the chaff (ipa) flew away will be the laughing stack in the unquenchable and inextinguishable fire.

John continued teaching the people on how to prepare themselves when the Mighty One, the Supreme One, the Holy One of God, the Messiah, the Christ arrives in his second coming.  “Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people” (Lk. 3: 18).  We too must prepare ourselves as we joyfully (Gaudete) rejoice for our salvation from Him who is to come is approaching very soon than we expect.