Tag: John the Baptist

Posted on

09 Gaudete Sunday

Advent wreath 2 purple and 1 rose candle lit

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Mass Readings

Third Sunday of Advent 
Reading 1 – Zephaniah 3:14-18A 
Psalm – Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6 
Reading 2 – Philippians 4:4-7  
Gospel – Luke 3:10-18 

Happy Gaudete Sunday!

Today is a day of great joy for the Christian community because we celebrate hope. That’s what the Good News is all about really – hope. The Church sets aside this Sunday as a break from all the preparation we’ve been doing in our lives – praying, paying careful attention to go to mass, to participate in the sacraments especially confession, and to focus on others and not ourselves. This Sunday reminds us that we are not doing all of those spiritual exercises because we are a dull, boring people. No! We are a people who hope for the promises God fulfilled in Christ Jesus who will come again! We are a people who are looking forward to a better tomorrow. So we light a pink candle today – a visual break in the color scheme of Advent – to remind us that we look forward with great hope.

Indeed, that’s what today’s readings are all about.

In our first reading, the prophet Zephaniah tells us to shout for joy (v)! We should not fear or be discouraged (v 14-15). Our Psalmist encourages us to, “Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel,” (v 6). And Paul encourages us to, “Rejoice in the Lord always,” (v 4).

John the Baptist tells us in today’s Gospel that Jesus will come to baptize us with fire (v 16). He will set this world on fire with love. So, we look forward with hope and joy, yes, but John the Baptist tells that we should express our hope and joy by helping the needy.

In “The Lord of the Rings,” the character Gollum covets and clings to his treasure. He’s been corrupted by the “One Ring” and will do anything to protect it. It’s easy to read that story or watch the movie, giggle and shake our heads at Gollum. It’s a fiction after all. But what do we as a culture say when we cry out things like, “It’s their own fault,” or “They should take care of themselves,” or “Using taxes to fund programs to help people is socialism.”

Being filled with Christian hope, being filled with the love of Jesus Christ is not an emotion. It’s a lifestyle. To be a disciple of Jesus is the real lifestyle makeover.
Fr Richard Rohr once said, “Christianity is a lifestyle – a way of being in the world that is simple, non-violent, shared and loving. However, we made it into an established “religion” (and all that goes with that) and avoided the lifestyle change itself. One could be warlike, greedy, racist, selfish, and vain in most of Christian history, and still believe that Jesus is one’s “personal Lord and Savior” . . . The world has no time for such silliness anymore. The suffering on Earth is too great.”

Homework: Hopefully you’ve had a chance to go to mass today. Even if you cannot receive the Eucharist for whatever reason, we can all avail ourselves of God’s grace by coming together as a community and be nourished by the Word of God proclaimed. Let’s reflect on the following two questions:

  1. Do I live a life of hope and joy? Or do I let any piece of negative news ruin my day?
  2. Do I share my hope with others by sharing the blessings I have received?

Hopefully that makes sense. So are you going to do your homework? Well good!
You can find a copy of today’s podcast and other helpful information on the website, www.deaconrudysnotes.org. The link will appear in the notes on your podcast player, but here’s the link just in case, here it is again: www.deaconrudysnotes.org.

May each of us come to experience the hope and the joy of Jesus Christ. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. +Amen!

Posted on

04 Second Sunday of Advent

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Mass Readings

Second Sunday of Advent 
Reading 1 – Baruch 5:1-9
Psalm – Psalm 126: 1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6
Reading 2 – Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11
Gospel – Luke 3:1-6

In today’s Gospel, Luke 3:1-6, we hear about John the Baptist. The reading tells us that he is the voice crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord…”

Why does God send John the Baptist ahead of Jesus?

Well, I think it ties well to what we discussed in last week’s episode, where sometimes Jesus is knocking on our door, but for whatever reason we don’t respond. So Jesus will try to come to us through other people. That helps me understand why John the Baptist was necessary then and why he so important to us today.

Who was John preaching to? Well, he wasn’t just talking to the establishment Jews who tolerated the Roman authorities and were tolerated by the Roman authorities. He was also speaking to the everyday person, people who were perhaps caught up in their own lives, going about their everyday routine. But he also preached to people who were caught up in their pious devotions. You know, sometimes it’s easy to get lost in pious devotion that we forget why we are praying. So John the Baptist was trying to get through to people by saying it’s God we’re supposed to be worshipping and it’s the Messiah we’re waiting for.

That’s a similar trap that I think many Christians fall into. I have experienced people so immersed in a particular devotion, but who clearly aren’t convicted as disciples of Jesus. Maybe you know the type. Perhaps that person is a real grouch or just plain mean or totally focused on themselves. In other words, there is no real transformation in their lives. Pious devotion isn’t about loading up your holy roller disco card. No, it’s about deepening your relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s about making a connection; having an encounter with Jesus, and that encounter should change the way we live our lives. If I’m not changing or growing in discipleship through pious devotions, then perhaps my acts of piety are a distraction. Maybe the voice calling out in the desert is trying to remind us that my piety should be oriented to Jesus – that it is Jesus who saves.

For others, perhaps it’s not piety that distracts us, but the busyness of our lives. What do I mean? Well, certainly, we can get caught up in our everyday lives and in the world around us. We wake up in the morning, and it’s all go, go, go, go! Then at the end of the day, we sit down and think, “Where did the day go?” Perhaps the voice crying out in the desert is trying to say slow down and appreciate the gifts God has given us. You can find Him in nature all around us; in the people we see every day; and in our friends and family. Maybe the voice calling out in the desert is trying to remind us that the rat race can’t save us. Only Jesus saves.

Perhaps others get too caught up in the world they build for themselves. Society tells us that we are kings of our own castles. Being a king means I should ask, “what’s in it for me?”

This is a great challenge especially for Christians living in the United States. For example, someone might say, as people have said to me, “Well, the tax law has changed, so I’m not getting the same tax benefit for my donation. I will not be able to give money to support your ministry helping orphans in Honduras through Friends of Los Niños.” Or they try to justify themselves and say, “I’m really upset about the scandal rocking the Church today so I’m not going to give to my parish and I’m not going to give to the diocesan capital campaign.” But our Christian faith tells us we are not supposed to be kings dripping with wealth, but stewards. We’re supposed to take care of our gifts and wealth for the building up of God’s kingdom, not to own wealth for our exclusive benefit.

Perhaps the voice crying out in the desert is saying don’t get so caught up in the world, don’t stubbornly try to control the world around you. My 401k, my bank account, my stock portfolio can’t save. Only Jesus saves.

Homework: Nourished by the Eucharist and by the Word of God proclaimed, ask yourself:

  1. How attached am I to my possessions? Am I too quick to make excuses why I can’t make a donation to charitable causes this year?
  2. Is my faith the best kept secret, a private devotion, or am I willing to share my faith with others?

I think by doing our homework this Advent season, we might be better able to hear the voice crying out in the wilderness and recognize the opportunity to have an encounter with Jesus Christ, an encounter that leads to transformation, transformation that leads to salvation.

Ok, does everyone understand the homework? So, are you going to do your homework? Well, good! For a copy of today’s reflection, head over to our website, https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/. May each of us this Advent season come to know the grace and peace of our Lord, Jesus Christ. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. +Amen