December 11, 2011

Third Sunday of Advent: Is 61:1-2a, 10- 11; 1 Thes 5:16-24; Jn 1:6-8, 19-28

As a priest for over twenty-one years I have had the privilege of being a part of many different families, sharing in their joys and sorrows. Priests are called more often for the sorrows, but on occasions we are also some of the first to share in the joyful news. That was the case a couple of years ago when Kevin, a young man called me with great excitement in his voice. I knew him since he was a young elementary school student in my first parish and watched him graduate from High School and begin his career. That day, his father surprised me at Mass at Mary Star and I asked him when his son would finally propose to his fiancé. When Kevin told me that evening he had just proposed marriage, you could feel the excitement bursting in his heart.

When we have great news to share, we all wish we could stand on top of a mountain and proclaim to the world our great joy so everyone can rejoice with us. Today is Gaudete Sunday from the first word of the Introit at Mass meaning Rejoice!. Today's readings remind us of the great joy that we all share. The first reading announces to the people of Israel that their suffering has come to its end. The spirit of the Lord is upon the prophet to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, release to the prisoners, and to announce a year of favor from the LORD and a day of vindication by our God. (Is 61:1-2a.) You can almost feel the joy of the prophet as he expresses his elation on the favor the Lord has bestowed upon the people.

This same joy is carried through in today’s Responsorial Psalm which comes from the Gospel of Luke. After receiving the Announcement of the Angel Gabriel, Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth to help her in her time of expectation. Elizabeth tells her that the child in her womb leapt for joy upon her arrival. Mary responds with the great song of joy, the Magnificat: (Is 61:10b) “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: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. 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.” (Lk 46-54). Mary cannot contain her joy for the great gift she is to bear to the world.

Paul also calls to mind this joy when he tells the people of Thessalonica, “Rejoice always…In all circumstance give thanks.” (1 Thes 5:17). Paul reminds us that we are children of the light, not the darkness and that we should not quench the Spirit, but reflect the joy of a believer.

Finally, today’s Gospel presents John the Baptist who was sent from God to “Testify to the light.” John is filled with great enthusiasm announcing the coming of the Lord. He is the voice of one crying out in the desert; to make straight the way of the Lord. But John insists that he is not the light.

There is a story of a five year old nephew of a bride who was chosen to be in charge of carrying the rings down the aisle. At the wedding rehearsal, he was unusually unruly. He kept leaping out at people, baring his teeth at them and then chasing the flower girls. He growled and snarled as he practiced going down the aisle. He brandished the pillow like a pistol. Finally, his mother pulled him aside and demanded to know why he was behaving so badly. “But Mom,” he explained, “I have to act fierce — I’m the ‘Ring Bear.’” The Child failed to realize that the wedding was not about him. He was not the light, the bride was the light.

As we draw near to Christmas we also are reminded that we have a great story to share with the world and it is not about a large man carrying Christmas toys down a chimney. We rejoice that we are able to bear the news that we are so loved by our God that he sent his only Son into the world for us.

Recently, a good friend of mine, recovered from major surgery. As I visited him in the hospital he pulled me close to him and said, “John, I have some good news to tell you, ‘You are loved by God.’” “Yes,” I replied. “No,” he said, “you are really loved by God, don’t forget that.” None of us should forget that. This is the great message of Christmas, the message that we should all be shouting from the mountains. We are not forgotten in our brokenness. God truly loves us and has sent His Son to save us. As we enter these last weeks of Advent, let us not forget to rejoice and let us never stop singing in joy as we announce the Love of God to the world.

God Bless,

Father John Provenza

Pastor