Sunday, December 14, 2003
3rd Sunday of Advent

1st Reading: Zep 3:14-18

Cry out with joy, O daughter of Zion; rejoice, O people of Israel! Sing joyfully with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem!

Yahweh has lifted your sentence and has driven your enemies away. Yahweh, the King of Israel is with you; do not fear any misfortune.

On that day they will say to Jerusalem: Do not be afraid nor let your hands tremble, for Yahweh your God is within you, Yahweh, saving warrior. He will jump for joy on seeing you, for he has revived his love. For you he will cry out with joy, as you do in the days of the Feast.

I will drive away the evil I warned you about, and you will no longer be shamed.

2nd Reading: Phil 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again: rejoice and may everyone experience your gentle and understanding heart. The Lord is near: do not be anxious about anything. In everything resort to prayer and supplication together with thanksgiving and bring your requests before God. Then the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Gospel: Lk 3:10-18

The people asked John, "What are we to do?" And John answered, "If you have two coats, give one to the person who has none; and if you have food, do the same."

Even tax collectors came to be baptized and asked him, "Master, what must we do?" John said to them, "Collect no more than your fixed rate." People serving as soldiers asked John, "What about us? What are we to do?" And he answered, "Don't take anything by force or threaten the people by denouncing them falsely. Be content with your pay."

The people were wondering about John's identity, "Could he be the Messiah?" Then John answered them, "I baptize you with water, but the one who is coming will do much more: he will baptize you with Holy Spirit and fire. As for me, I am not worthy to untie his sandal. He comes with a winnowing fan to clear his threshing floor and gather the grain into his barn. But the chaff he will burn with fire that never goes out."

With these and many other words John announced the Good News to the people.

Commentary

The irruption of John the Baptist presupposes the coming of a prophet, a precursor that prepares the way and put in question the lives of people. The prophet denounces the dominion of sins and evils in the world and at the same time announces the good news of hope for the coming of God's reign (kingdom). There are prophets, precursors and pioneers that open new roads to humanity. They are the ones helping us to prepare the advent of God. The message of advent is found in the words of John the Baptist: "I baptize you with water, but the one who is coming will do much more; he will baptize you with Holy Spirit and fire. As for me, I am not worthy to untie his sandal." John admits being sent to prepare the coming of Jesus. He is not Jesus. He affirms that the one who follows him is more powerful than he is. "He must increase while I must decrease," says John. The authority and credibility of John is rooted in his humble testimony as a precursor. His power rests on the authority of God who sends him to prepare the coming of the Messiah, the bringer of true salvation.

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