HOMILY 3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT – GAUDETE SUNDAY
PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD ONCE AGAIN WITH JOYFUL SPIRITS
Mt 11.2-11 Is 36.1-6,10 Jm 5.7-10
We jump now from Matthew’s introduction of John the Baptist to his imprisonment, as a challenge to the status quo of the Roman authorities, or was it more the Jewish religious leaders, who saw hin as a threat, at a time when Jesus was gaining traction with the ordinary people, particularly the dispossessed, poor, sick, lonely and lost! John might be removed from the front line, but his influence remains, the groundwork done, and Jesus is has come to build on it, big-time!
At the local level, last weekend we had our parish communities’ Vinnies Christmas appeal, where we offer thanks to all who contributed generously to support the good work of our StVde P members, serving those in need, in the background of our local region. On Friday, we. had lunch with the group, along with our school students here at St Therese’s, who have been involved in mini-Vinnies during the year. They then helped prepare hampers to go out to families and individuals in need, in order to brighten their Christmas, knowing they have friends who care about them. Then the senior group members had another lunch at the Linc on Saturday, as a group of friends working together, responding to the Gospel imperative of looking out for the needy. This is grass roots stuff at the heart of the Good News proclaimed by Jesus.
Likewise, our Parish Refugee and Asylum Seekers Group has provided friendship and practical support for many families, over more than the past 10 years. Thanks too, to all involved, and to parishioners, for your generosity and support there.
Now, as we heard last week, John the Baptist (JtB) is a striking and offbeat figure, out of the wilderness into the river, where his persuasive preaching seems to have struck a chord with many of the ordinary people, who would normally see the Temple as their place of prayer, offering and ritual. They probably still went there, but an appealing sidetrack is offered by John, and the temple police obviously don’t like it, for fear of losing business, and even more disturbing, control over the people, as John challenges them to think for themselves, in terms of a change of heart, genuine repentance and lived faith in their day to day lives. It requires more than just ritual, sacrifice, and external observance or compliance with expectations of others. It’s not about unthinking conformity.
Jesus gives John credit for his prophetic preaching and warnings, as God’s messenger, and preparing the way for the entry of Jesus onto the scene, which, by now, is well established in Matthew’s Gospel. My annual Advent hymn then comes into it, as “Here Comes the Son” (yes, another Beatles’ classic from the late George!), reflecting on coming into brighter times in springtime, from the darkness, cold and gloom of winter. I see it as a useful metaphor for John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus as ‘Son’, revealing a loving and compassionate God in his own person and teaching.
We’ve had the call of the apostles, the Beatitudes, the salt of the earth and the light of the world, forgiveness, love even of enemies, almsgiving without big-noting self, the flowers of the field and the birds of the air (an environmental statement about the beauty of Creation, if ever there was one!), private personal prayer, God in the image of Father in the Lord’s Prayer, firm foundations, healing the sick, driving out of demons, consorting with doubtful types such as tax collectors and sinners.
Now Jesus’ commendation and praise comes for the good work of John the Baptist, whose day is done, as he faces his fate, as salacious Salome, on behalf of her nasty daughter, the dancer of the the 7 veils before weak and paranoid Herod, demands his head on a plate!! Yet, not to be deterred the mission goes on, as Jesus sets his path forward, and summons his disciples to follow his example in word and action.
Advent sets a tone for both preparing and looking forward, but not always to better times, as we face the unknowns of the future. In terms of faith, Christmas will come, no matter what, and the message of the Christ child of peace and good will, along with the call to faith in a God who comes among us and walks this earth alongside those who believe.
Brendan Byrne SJ has further insights about John maybe even having his doubts about Jesus not being the fiery preacher he anticipated in last week’s Gospel, but rather a more low-key ministry attending to the needs of the afflicted and sinners. But, at the same time, Jesus doesn’t solve all the problems and heal everyone. His mission is ongoing for all of us to particpate. Says Brendan: “We confront here the ‘already, but not yet’ aspect of the onset of the kingdom. The messianic age has dawned in the first coming of Jesus, but it is by no means fully arrived”. It’s up to you and me to continue that mission of healing and compassion.
And my old mate Claude Mostowik MSC always has something positive and encouraging to say: “Like John (JtB), we do not see the world changed in our lifetime… But our challenge is to offer the world something new… Let our hands and feet, our words and deeds, do the work of attending to the suffering of this world, of healing, sorrow and despair. Clothe and feed your neighbour. Love your neighbour. Struggle for justice for and with your neighbour… And, as we serve, may we remember to rejoice in the Lord, to ring out our joy, and to give thanks for our innumerable blessings.” As I’ve already mentioned, the work of Vinnies and our Refugee support group exemplify this in practice.
Finally, gratitude was my focus for the OLN Advent whole school Mass on Friday, where I suggested we think about who and what we are grateful for, in all of our interactions wirh others, starting with family, then friends, and then broader communities, with which we are involved.
This is Gaudete Sunday, a time of Joy, after we’ve lit the candles of Hope and Peace, anticipating that of Love next weekend, all powerful and positive themes in our faith lives, as we head into celebrating the mystery of Incarnation, his birth among us, so let’s be people who find joy in life and live it well, despite the frustrations and disappointments that can so easily weigh us down at times.
john hannon 14th December 2025