Third Sunday of Advent (Year B)

Third Sunday of Advent - December 17, 2023

Readings: Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

(image courtesy: Google)

A certain monastery discovered that it was going through a crisis. Some of the monks left, no new candidates joined them, and people were no longer coming for prayer and consultation as they used to. The few monks that remained were becoming old and depressed and bitter in their relationship with one another. The abbot heard about a holy man, a hermit living alone in the woods and decided to consult him. He told the hermit how the monastery had dwindled and diminished and now looks like a skeleton of what it used to be. Only seven old monks remained. The hermit told the abbot that he has a secret for him. One of the monks now living in his monastery is actually the Messiah, but he is living in such a way that no one could recognize him.

With this revelation the abbot goes back to his monastery, summons a community meeting and recounts what the holy hermit told him. The aging monks look at each other in unbelief, trying to discern who among them could be the Christ. Could it be Brother Mark who prays all the time? But he has this holier-than-thou attitude toward others. Could it be Bother Joseph who is always ready to help? But he is always eating and drinking and cannot fast. The abbot reminded them that the Messiah has adopted some bad habits as a way of camouflaging his real identity. This only made them more confused and they could not make a headway figuring out who was the Christ among them. At the end of the meeting what each one of the monks knew for sure was that any of the monks, excepting himself, could be the Christ.

From that day, however, the monks began to treat one another with greater respect and humility, knowing that the person they are speaking to could be the very Christ. They began to show more love for one another, their common life became more brotherly and their common prayer more fervent. Slowly people began to take notice of the new spirit in the monastery and began coming back for retreats and spiritual direction. Word began to spread and, before you know it, candidates began to show up and the monastery began to grow again in number as the monks grew in zeal and holiness. All this because a man of God drew their attention to the truth that Christ was living in their midst as one of them.

The Third Sunday of Advent, often called Gaudete Sunday, is a moment of rejoicing and anticipation in the liturgical calendar. The readings highlight joy, hope, and preparation for the coming of Christ.

In the first reading of today we recognize God's prophetic and symbolic language that was being spoken through Prophet Isaiah. In this reading a servant of God thrills at the new task given by God to him. In an earlier oracle the Prophet gave a warning to nations that formed alliances and made plans not confirmed by the spirit of God. The sad consequences of these policies are clearly exhibited in the vocabulary of this reading.  The prophet addresses the captives and the prisoners of such failed human policies.  The servant of God now proclaims freedom and healing to a weary people.  Justice will prevail where prudent and ignorance once ruled. The servant describes the new relationship between God and people as a royal wedding.

In the Gospel passage we encounter John the Baptist, a beacon of humility and purpose. He testifies to the Light, preparing the way for Christ’s coming. His humility in acknowledging his role as the precursor to the Messiah stands as an example for us, inviting reflection on our own preparation for Christ’s presence in our lives. John’s single-minded devotion to his mission becomes an inspiration for us during this Advent season—to clear the clutter in our hearts and lives, making room for Christ to dwell.

In our contemporary lives, this Sunday calls us to pause and ponder. It beckons us to find joy not in fleeting pleasures but in the enduring hope that Christ’s presence brings. It encourages us to embrace the season of Advent not as a hurried prelude to Christmas but as a sacred time of preparation and reflection.

Let us embrace the spirit of Advent by fostering an attitude of joyful anticipation, prayerful reflection, and active readiness for Christ’s coming. As we journey through these remaining days of Advent, may we embody the joy that emanates from the promise of Christ’s birth, sharing this light and hope with a world in need of its warmth and comfort.

Happy Sunday