3rd Sunday of Advent

 12th Dec 2021

3rd Sunday of Advent

Today we light the rose coloured candle . Rose is the liturgical colour for joy. Just for today, as we approach Christmas, we break with our penitential theme and we look forward with joy. We say "Gaudete!" or "Rejoice!"  The light gets brighter with each passing day. We are getting nearer to The Light of The World. Am I preparing well? Are you?

Gospel- Luke 3:10-18

'Someone is coming who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire'

When all the people asked John, ‘What must we do?’ he answered, ‘If anyone has two tunics he must share with the man who has none, and the one with something to eat must do the same.’ There were tax collectors too who came for baptism, and these said to him, ‘Master, what must we do?’ He said to them, ‘Exact no more than your rate.’ Some soldiers asked him in their turn, ‘What about us? What must we do?’ He said to them, ‘No intimidation! No extortion! Be content with your pay!’

A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people, who were beginning to think that John might be the Christ, so John declared before them all, ‘I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise 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 in a fire that will never go out.’ As well as this, there were many other things he said to exhort the people and to announce the Good News to them.

Comment:

We see here John the Baptist giving us a way to behave, a way to lead a good life. They thought he might be the Christ but he is quick to put them right. . He was preparing the way for the Christ to come. John announces  the Good News and asks his followers to be ready for the one to come, whose sandal straps he is not fit to undo. A good life, however excellent, is not enough, we have to accept Christ into our lives and live for Him. 

What am I doing to prepare for Jesus to come into my life more fully this Christmas? In the busyness of Turkeys, pigs in blankets, puddings, Christmas cakes, Christmas cards, decorated trees, parties, carol concerts, and visits with family,  I will take time out to walk with Mary as she heads towards Bethlehem riding on a donkey, with faithful Joseph walking beside her. 

I will try to prepare my heart to fall in love again with the Christ Child.