Third Sunday of Advent

This Sunday, we celebrate Gaudete Sunday. Have you ever seen the movie The Polar Express? The main character referred to simply as “Hero Boy,” can’t hear the bell ring in the movie. He’s very much the “seeing is believing” sort of kid. But he is sad when he sees everyone celebrating when Santa arrives because he still can’t hear Santa’s bell.

How many of our friends and families come to church, but they can’t hear the bells – they don’t really believe? Why do they come to church? Maybe they come out of family obligation or habit or honoring their family traditions. But they don’t believe in God or believe that Jesus is present in the Eucharist.

Some people even make fun of Catholics – like our incense and bells, history, saints, and rosary. Some of these doubters are captives – they are prisoners to their fears or anger or sadness. Of course, people can also be trapped by their drive for material success and the pleasures this world can offer. Maybe some of these doubters might have believed at one point, but perhaps they suffered some tragedy, like the untimely death of someone they loved very much.

And this year, well consider the unprecedented events of 2020, from fires raging in California, Oregon, and Colorado to the eight named hurricanes or tropical storms that hit Louisiana to COVID-19 to the turmoil that gripped the United States in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and the drama surrounding the presidential election. And of course, COVID-19 adds to the confusion and which is financially ruining some families.

If there is a God, how can God allow so much pain and suffering? And today, so many nonbelievers who come to Mass with their families, perhaps not unlike Hero Boy from The Polar Express, might even feel a little sad this time of year as they see us praying without ceasing like St. Paul says (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Today is Gaudete Sunday, and they see us rejoice on this day because Jesus’ birthday is near!

You see, like Santa tells Hero Boy, “…the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart.” We Christians know the Truth! And here’s part of that Truth. God created you and me to help spread the Great Story of Jesus! As missionary disciples, we know that our mission, like our first reading from Isaiah says, is “…to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release the prisoners…” (Isaiah 61:1). Like John the Baptist in today’s gospel, we believers are like a voice crying out in the desert! (John 16:23).

Who are we to act like John the Baptist? After all, we are not Elijah. And we are not prophets. We are just ordinary believers filled with the love of God. God gave us the greatest gift imaginable: his son, Jesus. But the best gifts in life are supposed to be shared! So, we share the gift of Jesus with everyone around us.

Sometimes the love we share can take the form of Christmas presents and Christmas trees, and all sorts of decorations. But you know, sometimes it can be as simple as sharing a cup of coffee or maybe a beer with a dear friend. Or perhaps it’s just sitting with someone who’s going through a challenging time.

The air is filled with so much excitement as Jesus’ birthday draws near. We’re all so busy buying presents and wrapping presents or perhaps ordering and shipping things online this year. But we can’t forget to invite people to keep holy Christmas day. Maybe we invite someone to Mass. Or maybe we share the link to the Mass with a friend and inviting them to watch the Mass with us online. However, we mark the occasion, we remember, and we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

At the end of The Polar Express, the adult Hero Boy says, “At one time, most of my friends could hear the bell, but as the years passed, it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I’ve grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe.”

This Christmas, may all of us celebrate with the faith of true belief. May our faith in Christ shine on those who hunger for something more. May our faith lead them to an encounter with Jesus Christ!

Homework! Blessed by the Sacraments, I encourage you to reflect on the following questions.

First, how are you planning to celebrate Christmas this year? Will you go to Mass or attend online?
Second, what is something you can do this season to spread the love of Christ with someone else?

I think our homework will help us keep Christ in Christmas. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Image Credit: Artist unknown. JPG file.

Bibliography:
1. Eubank, Nathan. First and Second Thessalonians. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2019. Kindle.
2. Gadenz, Pablo T. The Gospel of Luke. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2018. Kindle.
3. Martin, Francis and William M. Wright IV. The Gospel of John. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2015. Kindle.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Joy: 30, 163, 301, 736, 1829, 1832, 2015, 2362
2. Old Covenant: 121
3. God’s love for Israel: 218-19
4. Word in Israel: 707-16
5. Characteristics of the awaited Messiah: 713-14
6. John the Baptist: 523, 717-20
7. The Church as the Bride of Christ: 772, 796
8. Human reason and will: 1701-9
9. Magnificat and Hail Mary: 2097, 2619, 2622, 2675-77

Third Sunday of Advent https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121320.cfm
Lectionary: 8

Reading 1
Isaiah 61:1-2A, 10-11
The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor,
to heal the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
and release to the prisoners,
to announce a year of favor from the LORD
and a day of vindication by our God.

I rejoice heartily in the LORD,
in my God is the joy of my soul;
for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation
and wrapped me in a mantle of justice,
like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem,
like a bride bedecked with her jewels.
As the earth brings forth its plants,
and a garden makes its growth spring up,
so will the Lord GOD make justice and praise
spring up before all the nations.

Responsorial
Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54.
R. (Is 61:10b) My soul rejoices in my God.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked upon his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
R. My soul rejoices in my God.
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
R. My soul rejoices in my God.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
R. My soul rejoices in my God.

Reading 2
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.
In all circumstances give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the Spirit.
Do not despise prophetic utterances.
Test everything; retain what is good.
Refrain from every kind of evil.

May the God of peace make you perfectly holy
and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body,
be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The one who calls you is faithful,
and he will also accomplish it.

Alleluia
Isaiah 61:1 (cited in LK 4:18)
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
John 1:6-8, 19-28
A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light.

And this is the testimony of John.
When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests
and Levites to him
to ask him, “Who are you?”
He admitted and did not deny it,
but admitted, “I am not the Christ.”
So they asked him,
“What are you then? Are you Elijah?”
And he said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
So they said to him,
“Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?
What do you have to say for yourself?”
He said:
“I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,
‘make straight the way of the Lord,’”
as Isaiah the prophet said.”
Some Pharisees were also sent.
They asked him,
“Why then do you baptize
if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?”
John answered them,
“I baptize with water;
but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after me,
whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”
This happened in Bethany across the Jordan,
where John was baptizing.

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