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Readings: The
text of the prophet Zephaniah refers to a time shortly before
the reign of Josiah. The country was submerged in grave moral
misery and for some time Assyria’s threat had been felt. Zephaniah,
as a witness to Israel’s great sins and to God’s punishment
to purify the people, pre-announces the restoration and redemption
that God will bring about. He calls the beneficiaries of that
redemption, a “remnant” and from that remnant God will create
a new people. At
the end of the book Zephaniah envisions some sparks of hope:
King Josiah is presented as a great reformer, and for the
moment Assyria seems to loosen its grip. The time has come
to announce better days ahead for Jerusalem and to invite
the people to rejoice with a great feast where there will
be dancing and glad rejoicing. Israel
is overjoyed because the Lord has cancelled her debt and the
punishment for her sins (the captivity). God establishes his
throne in Zion. With such a powerful King and merciful Father
the people have nothing to fear (v. 14-15). Now it is not
so much Israel who rejoices in God, but the Lord himself who
rejoices with a new people. It is the spouse who rejoices
in the beloved. Often in the prophets the Alliance is presented
as a betrothal. Yahveh, your God is in your midst; He rejoices
over you with gladness and renews you in his love. God sings
joyfully because of you and makes a great feast for you” (v.
16-17). Today’s
liturgical texts invite us to rejoice. That is the spirit
in which to wait for God’s coming. Christ, the long awaited
Messiah, is the authentic delight of God’s people. Paul
recommends to the Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord always,
again I say, rejoice.” The
passage from Luke tells of John the Baptist, the precursor
and witness. His teaching impresses the people and they come
closer to ask, “what should we do?” Verse 10 is proof that
they have understood the message as they realize that John’s
baptism demands a change in conduct. The answer is not long
in coming: “Share your belongings: clothes, food, etc.” (v.
10-11). They
don’t ask what they should think, or what they should believe.
The Gospel’s aim is that those who hear God’s Word will be
converted, that is, their way of acting will comply with the
justice of God’s reign. The Good News has within itself a
clear requirement: those who have power or material belongings
are called to share them with the weak and those who have
nothing. Thanks to that conversion, the poor and the needy
are equal to others. In fact, the poor don’t pose the question.
They have an expectant attitude. The question “what shall
we do?” is for those who have money, education, power…because
the basic demand, according to the Bible, is to share. Conversion
is a change of conduct rather than a change of ideas. It is
the transformation of We
are tempted to remain on the eternal quest, or to be satisfied
with the question without really listening to the answer.
These temptations keep us from conversion. According to the
Baptist, conversion demands clearing the threshing floor,
(knowing how to choose); gathering the grain (get to the core
of the situation and don’t beat around the bush) and burn
the chaff (throw out the trash and anything that paralyzes
us). To
accept the Good News of Christ’s coming requires such a conversion.
With our gestures we discern between what draws us towards
Christ and what distances us from his coming. On that day
God will distinguish the wheat from the chaff in our conduct. This
Sunday was traditionally called Gaudete Sunday or Sunday
of Joy. Twice Paul tells us to be glad, joyful because of
God’s coming for the celebration of the Nativity, for being
filled with hope, for being in a conversion process and for
sharing the Lord’s Supper with our sisters and brothers. In
Scripture, every fulfillment of God’s promises brings rejoicing.
This time that joy will be especially profound: God is near
(Phil 4,5) Every petition to God should be accompanied by
thanksgiving (v.6). The practice of justice and a life of
rejoicing will lead us to authentic peace, to God’s Shalom
(life and integrity). “What
should we do?” continues to be the question many of us can
ask today. John the Baptist’s answer is not empty theory.
Through concrete actions of justice, respect, solidarity and
Christian coherence, we demonstrate our will for peace, we
weave a social fabric more worthy of the children of God and
we gradually accomplish those radical changes that our life
and society need. But to be able to do that calls for a pure
heart; letting the Spirit of God invade us, freeing the ties
of selfishness and complacency. We are called to overcome
our fear of change and joyfully avail ourselves with delight
and enthusiasm for the building of a not-too-distant future
Reign, that will truly be an expression of the Reign that
Jesus brings. Then we can proclaim with gladness “Thy Kingdom
come”. For personal conversion: Advent
is a good time to ask ourselves the question John’s listeners
asked: What should we do? It’s a conversion question. In the
light of this Gospel, what do I think the radical prophet
John would respond? What should I do? For Group Reflection: This
Christmas again we receive the joy and delight of the birth
of Christ. But, let us ask ourselves: In our world, our country,
our society, what are the signs of God’s dawning Reign? Is
Christmas really present in the world? Where is Jesus born?
What does it really mean to be Christmas? Do the poor receive
health, life, jobs, justice…the Good News? What can we do
so that Jesus will truly be born this Christmas? Is Christmas
a very “western” celebration besides being Christian? Is there
an ethnic group in our area that celebrates –Christmas differently
than we do? Would it be in the spirit of Christmas to approach
that group for dialogue, mutual understanding and possible
collaboration? For the Prayer of the Faithful -That
during this Advent season we continue nourishing, deepening,
renewing and sharing our hope, we pray to the Lord… -For
all those who feel sad or nostalgic as Christmas approaches,
because they are far from their families and alone…that the
power of love bridge all of these distances so that they experience
universal communion. -That
we prepare ourselves for the celebration of Christmas with
realism, working so that Jesus may truly be born in our midst… -That
today the distance between our reality and the utopia that
we dream of, may lead us not into resignation or cynicism,
but to fidelity, resistance and ongoing efforts to draw closer
to the utopia of God’s Reign… -That
on this eve of Christmas the austerity of John the Baptist
may inspire us to avoid all extravagance in our spending and
to share more with the needy. And that this Good News may
speak to the poor of the effectiveness of Jesus’ birth… Community Prayer Oh God, Mother and Father of all humans, as the beloved feast of Christmas approaches, we ask that the best in our hearts may blossom forth, so that we may share the tenderness and love that you have given us with our sisters and brothers. We ask this through Jesus, your son and our brother, you who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen. |
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