Texts taken from the Missalette “On Your Word” November-December 2021

3rd Sunday of Advent (C) “Gaudete”
3rd week, Sunday cycle

FIRST READING

From the book of the prophet Zephaniah (Zeph 3:14-17)
Rejoice, daughter of Zion, shout for joy, Israel, exult and acclaim with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has revoked your condemnation, he has driven away your enemy. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear no misfortune any longer. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear, Zion, do not let your hands grow weak! The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior. He will rejoice over you, renew you with his love, and exult over you with shouts of joy.” – The word of God.

Commentary on the first reading

The prophet Zephaniah lived in Jerusalem during the time of King Josiah, who had begun a reform of religious worship after years of various infidelities and moral corruption among the chosen people. For years, the holy people had been under the influence of the Assyrians, who had also spread pagan cults and customs in Israel. Zephaniah announces the salvation of the people through God, who by his power drives away their enemies. He announces consolation for Israel: “Do not let your hands grow weak! The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior.” This reminder also applies to us today, because we too are in some way besieged by modern “Assyrians,” namely those who want to paganize everything and relativize every doctrine. Sacred Scripture urges us not to be afraid, but to respond because the Lord is always with us, with those who want to remain faithful. We must not fear anything, but hold high the banner of faith and rejoice in Christ’s presence in the Church and in our hearts. The believer’s joy is answered by God’s joy. Yes, there is joy in God too—indeed, above all in him.

SECOND READING

From the letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Philippians (Phil 4:4-7)
Brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord always; I say it again: rejoice. Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near! Do not be anxious about anything, but in every circumstance, make your requests known to God through prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. – The word of God.

Commentary on the second reading

In these few lines, the apostle Paul urges the Christians of Philippi to find all their joy in the Lord. In him is the root of every good thing; therefore, if we have God, we have everything. Consequently, our graciousness toward others becomes natural, because we communicate what we carry within us. In the first century, what convinced entire populations to become Christians was the overflowing joy of the first believers: they had found the meaning of life, they knew that heavenly life awaited them, and therefore that the soul is immortal in Christ. They loved one another and loved others. This was exhilarating! Previously, pagans did not know these things: only Christ’s resurrection made the first Christians so convinced. Joy is communicative, in fact; it spreads by contagion. The expression “Do not be anxious about anything” can also be translated, more literally, as “do not cultivate your worries.” There are worries in life, certainly, but we must not water them, fertilize them, or cultivate them; the Lord’s life is in us: what worry can dominate us if we know that Jesus has risen and is alive?

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Luke (Lk 3:10-18)
At that time, the crowds asked John, “What then should we do?” He answered them, “Whoever has two tunics should share with the person who has none, and whoever has food should do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized and asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Stop collecting more than what has been prescribed.” 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.” Since the people were filled with expectation and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ, John answered them all, saying: “I baptize you with water, but one mightier than I is coming, and I am not worthy to untie the straps 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.” With many other exhortations, John preached good news to the people. – The Gospel of the Lord.

Commentary on the Gospel of the day

Three times in this Gospel passage we find the expression: “What then should we do?” Jesus is about to arrive; we must prepare ourselves, but we need concrete guidance. These are the moral rules of life that are absolutely necessary for living the life of grace (baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire). Grace cannot be preserved in a vessel that is cracked and dirty; one cannot accept living in mortal sin while at the same time professing faith in God. John says: put things right, then the Lord will come. Today we can reverse the sentence and say: God is in you, therefore live without sin. We receive the Lord in the Holy Eucharist, and he brings us to heaven with him, giving us the Holy Spirit; but then we return home and find unpleasant neighbors, go to work and encounter people who humiliate us, face temptations of vanity, greed, and hostility, and must resist. But the Lord helps and strengthens us, if we desire it. Baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire enables us to live another life, which is preserved through frequent Confession and the holy Communion received often and with faith.