Third Sunday of Advent

He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. – John 1:7

Candice asked me if I had kids. I told her I didn’t have any, and that my husband and I are having difficulty conceiving. She must have seen the discouraged look on my face because she started speaking of good things to uplift my spirits.

       What kind of things? She spoke passionately about the love of God, about keeping the faith in His divine providence, and about patience for His timing.

       Candice’s testimony reminded me that God knows my heart’s desires and that I should appreciate the blessings that come our way while waiting for that gift from heaven. She even said that ours was not a chance encounter, that there was a purpose for our meeting. I believed so, too.

       Candice was my John the Baptist that day. Who was she? An African-American woman who stepped out of their house to say hello to my husband and me when we checked out a car that her brother was selling. I may never see her again, but I will definitely remember her and her precious words. Nova Arias-Sevilla (nova.svp@gmail.com)

Reflection: We Christians are called to testify to the Light. Be John the Baptist to someone who needs hope today.

Jesus, my Lord, let my mouth speak of Your love and mercy all the days of my life.

St. John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church, pray for us.

This is perhaps the most hope-filled passage in the Old Testament. In it we read many of the characteristics the Jews believed would be part of the Messiah’s ministry and life. These aspects are not just for Christ but for all of us who seek to be His disciples and carry on the work of evangelization until it is our turn to be called to heaven.

1 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, 2 to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God. 10 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. 11 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.

R: My soul rejoices in my God.

46 “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; 47 my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed. (R) 49 The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. 50 He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. (R) 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy.” (R)

To pray constantly means that our entire lives should be a prayer of sacrifice and praise to Christ. This does not mean that we can avoid praying in terms of setting aside a time for that purpose, but we must still do this whatever we do with the rest of our lives. Paul knows that it is in prayer that we are empowered by the grace of God. Is this what you want for your life?

16 Brothers and sisters: Rejoice always. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 Test everything; retain what is good. 22 Refrain from every kind of evil. 23 May the God of peace himself make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it.

The prophets had been silent for over 300 years before John the Baptist came to the scene. This is a very long time to go without any encouragement and direction. Maybe the absence was part of God’s design to make us hungrier for His Word, which was to come in the flesh in the person of Jesus. Maybe it was simply because those who were called to be prophets were not responding to their callings.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.

6 A man named John was sent from God. 7 He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. 19 And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” 21 So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 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?” 23 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.” 24 Some Pharisees were also sent. 25 They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, 27 the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” 28 This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

think:  Our entire lives should be a prayer of sacrifice and praise to Christ.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Hosea 6-10

THE EAR OF THE HEART

Dolores Hart was a talented and beautiful young woman when she made her film debut opposite Elvis Presley in a 1957 film called Loving You. She had several other movies after that successful film. In 1963, she surprised Hollywood by answering the call of Holy Vows. She entered a monastery and became a nun. Now, Dolores Hart is simply known as Mother Dolores.

         She wrote an autobiography detailing her transition from Hollywood to the religious life. In it, she says that God’s call can only be perceived through “the ear of the heart,” the title she used for the book.

       The Ear of the Heart. That’s a clever title for a book. That is also a good advent slogan. Listening and loving are inseparable. Notice that right in the middle of the word heart is the word ear. John the Baptist cries out in the desert, “I am a voice in the desert crying out: Make straight the way of the Lord!” Our advent task is not only to hear. Our advent task is to love He who is to come.

         What do you hear right now as December 25 approaches? The sound of carols, new gadgets, get-togethers, eating binges, cash registers? What makes you excited in your heart?

         Christmas beckons. And as that day approaches, I think of that familiar carol, “Do You Hear What I Hear?” What is that song reminding us to hear? It beckons us to listen with our heart to “the child, the child, sleeping in the night, He will bring us goodness and light. He will bring us goodness and light!” Fr. Joel Jason

REFLECTION QUESTION: In prayer, ask God to incline the yearnings of your heart to Himself.

Amidst the many attractions of the Christmas season, attract my heart, O God. Amen