A Homily – The Third Sunday of Advent (Year B)

First Reading – Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11 ©

Responsorial Psalm – Luke 1:46-50, 53-54 ©

Second Reading – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 ©

Gospel Acclamation – Isaiah 61:1 (Luke 4:18)

The Gospel According to John 1:6 – 8, 19 - 28 ©

 

(NJB)

 

Listen!

 Consider the teaching of the prophet who says that it is wise to praise God, and to praise God’s servant when the will of God is done. It is right and good to praise those who shed light on the way and encourage us to follow it with clarity of purpose.

 Know this.

 God is the author of our well-being, in-so-far as we are able to lead lives of integrity we should give thanks to God, the creator of the universe, for creating us with the capacity to do so, for guiding us and drawing us to the divine.

 It is God’s constant desire to share with us all the good things that emanate from the divine and that we share them as we are able with all of God’s children, with a spirit of compassion.

 Be mindful.

 While it is true that God is the eternal source of all goodness, nevertheless, God waits on us and the choices we make in freedom, to manifest that goodness in our lives, both for ourselves and on behalf of others.

 Rejoice in the divine, rejoice that we who are infinitely less than the infinite God, have been graced by infinitude of the divine blessing. Rejoice in God’s mercy and do not fear; rejoice in your salvation.

Consider the teaching of the apostle and know that these words are meant for everyone, for all of God’s children whether they have entered the church or not.

 It is God’s desire that we be happy. There is joy in the divine when we give thanks for what we receive from God’s goodness, this is the way that Jesus taught us to live, first to receive the blessing and then to let it flow through us. Look for the spirit of God in all whom you meet, because God is with them as God is with you.

 It is right and good to pray for perfection, but do not expect to find it in this world, its promise will find you in the next.

 Consider the gospel reading for today.

 It is a revisionist narrative, and does not represent the teaching of Jesus.

 Today’s reading is false and propagandistic, demonstrating the worst tendencies of the early church to stifle dissent among its members and sweep its competitors away, to sweep them out over the fast-hold of the threshing room, the followers of John among them.

 Be mindful!

 Jesus of Nazareth was a man. He was Joseph and Mary’s son. He was not the creator of the universe, and John the Baptist was not sent by God to bear witness to anything other than God’s everlasting love, a mission he took upon himself and performed imperfectly as all men do.

 What is true is this:

 John and Jesus, like all prophets, bore witness to injustice and spoke against it where they saw it. They were killed for their work, put to death by the prevailing powers of their day.

 It is fair to say that in their hearts, they heard the voice of God, they listened to that voice in the same place where God dwells and speaks to each of us. They bore within themselves an image of God, the imago dei, a seed of the Word and the spirit of wisdom…as do we all.

 They were not special in what they had been given, though they were special in how they let those become manifest in their lives…in how they shared it with the world.

 Know this!

 All of us bear a seed of God’s Word within us, the divine logos is present to us, and where God is present, God is present fully.

 God was present in Isaiah, in John, in Mary, in Jesus, in Paul, as God is present in you and I, in everyone.

 The light that John bore witness to, is a light that dwells within us all.

 Christians are called to follow the way of Jesus, as Jesus followed in the way of John; the way is a path of service and sacrifice, anoint yourself with these and you will be a light to others.

First Reading – Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11 ©

He has Sent Me to Proclaim a Year of Favour from the Lord

The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for the Lord has anointed me.

He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up hearts that are broken; to proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to those in prison; to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord.

‘I exult for joy in the Lord, my soul rejoices in my God, for he has clothed me in the garments of salvation, he has wrapped me in the cloak of integrity, like a bridegroom wearing his wreath, like a bride adorned in her jewels.

‘For as the earth makes fresh things grow, as a garden makes seeds spring up, so will the Lord make both integrity and praise spring up in the sight of the nations.’

 

Responsorial Psalm – Luke 1:46-50, 53-54 ©

My soul rejoices in my God.

My soul glorifies the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.

He looks on his servant in her nothingness;

henceforth all ages will call me blessed.

My soul rejoices in my God.

The Almighty works marvels for me.

Holy his name!

His mercy is from age to age,

on those who fear him.

My soul rejoices in my God.

He fills the starving with good things,

sends the rich away empty.

He protects Israel, his servant,

remembering his mercy.

My soul rejoices in my God.

 

Second Reading – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 ©

May You All be Kept Safe for the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

Be happy at all times; pray constantly; and for all things give thanks to God, because this is what God expects you to do in Christ Jesus.

Never try to suppress the Spirit or treat the gift of prophecy with contempt; think before you do anything – hold on to what is good and avoid every form of evil.

May the God of peace make you perfect and holy; and may you all be kept safe and blameless, spirit, soul and body, for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has called you and he will not fail you.

 

Gospel Acclamation  Isaiah 61:1 (Luke 4:18)

Alleluia, alleluia!

The spirit of the Lord has been given to me.

He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor.

Alleluia!

 

The Gospel According to Mark 1:6 – 8, 19 - 28 ©

'There Stands Among You the One Coming After Me'

A man came, sent by God.

His name was John.

He came as a witness, as a witness to speak for the light, so that everyone might believe through him.

He was not the light,

only a witness to speak for the light.

 

This is how John appeared as a witness. When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ he not only declared, but he declared quite openly, ‘I am not the Christ.’ ‘Well then,’ they asked ‘are you Elijah?’ ‘I am not’ he said. ‘Are you the Prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ So they said to him, ‘Who are you? We must take back an answer to those who sent us. What have you to say about yourself?’ So John said, ‘I am, as Isaiah prophesied:

a voice that cries in the wilderness:

Make a straight way for the Lord.’

Now these men had been sent by the Pharisees, and they put this further question to him, ‘Why are you baptising if you are not the Christ, and not Elijah, and not the prophet?’ John replied, ‘I baptise with water; but there stands among you – unknown to you – the one who is coming after me; and I am not fit to undo his sandal-strap.’ This happened at Bethany, on the far side of the Jordan, where John was baptising.

 

The Third Sunday of Advent (Year B)