HOMILY FOR THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT — YEAR C
HOMILY FOR THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT — YEAR C
HOMILY THEME: WHAT MUST WE DO?
BY: Fr Casmir Nkamuke
Zeph 3:14-18a; Phil 4:4-7; Lk 3:10-18
Today is Gaudate Sunday. Coined from the First word of today’s second reading, it is a Sunday set out to rejoice in great anticipation for the coming of the Messiah. The readings of today show us why we must rejoice and what we must do to have complete joy.
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Addressing the Jews facing oppression at the hands of foreign powers, the prophet Zephaniah tells them to shout for joy. This call to rejoicing is because the Lord, the mighty man in valour is in their midst to protect them from evil forces and renew their hearts with love.
The call to happiness and joy is repeated by St. Paul to the perplexed Philippians. He admonishes them not to worry but to rather commit everything to God in prayer. While we may know the things that make us happy, true happiness comes in committing every situation to God’s hand and believing that he knows what is best for us.
In today’s gospel, John the Baptist prepares the way for God’s coming by teaching his congregation the kingdom values to live out and the vices to avoid. He advises that we be charitable with our resources especially to those who have none, we should avoid extortion, bribery and corruption, and that we should strive not to intimidate others with our authority.
Beloved child of God, many things instil fear and anxiety in us as Christmas approaches. These fears not only rob us of the joy of the season, but also put us under unnecessary pressure to deceive and exploit others or become insensitive to the plight of those around us. Like the audience of John today, we ask what must we do?
The first thing to do is to understand the spirit of the Christmas celebration. It is a season we celebrate God’s transforming intervention to human history to restore all that was destroyed by original sin. The second thing to do is to commit our worries and anxieties to God. Problems are not usually solved by spending sleepless nights in anxiety. True joy comes from God. The third thing to do is to be charitable. Christmas is all about putting smiles on people’s faces. It was the reason Christ came in history, it is the reason for which we expect his intervention in our lives, it is the reason he will come again at the end of time. Make it a resolution to give alms this season.
The fourth thing to do is to avoid exploitation, intimidation and deceit. These attitudes deprive people of the joy that the Christmas season radiates. Anyone involved in such behaviour must stop it forth with and become more honest and transparent. Moreso, those in the authority of power must know that one cannot achieve peace through violence. It will rather be achieved by ensuring that the commonwealth is equitably distributed.
Beloved in the Lord, Christ invites us to cry out and shout for God is with us (Emmanuel). As we intensify the preparations for Christmas celebration, may we surrender our anxieties and challenges before God in prayer and do the things that will increase the joy of Christmas in our lives and that of those around us.
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