3rd Sunday advent C
REJOICE ALWAYS
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on every third Sunday of advent we celebrate ‘gaudete’— rejoice— Sunday. But the big question is, what are we to rejoice about. Considering all the troubles and trials of this world— Violence, wars, hunger, unemployment, inadequate schools and facilities etc. What then is the basis of this call to joy?
First Reading (Zephaniah 3: 14-18)
In this passage, the prophet Zephaniah calls on the people to rejoice. Their joy should be based on the fact that their sentence has been repealed. God will no longer punish them for their offences. They will receive forgiveness. But more importantly God is now in their midst, there is no need for fear. These words of Zephaniah brings hope in the mercy of God. His judgement is not a punitive justice, it justifies his people. The prophet says that God will rejoice over his people with gladness and will renew them in his love and will exult as in the day of a great festival. This imagery is powerful and comforting for a people who are troubled about what the Day of the Lord might be. The words of Zephaniah are addressed to us today, to reassure us of the presence of God and His mercy in our lives. He has promised to be with us to the end of time. He is Emmanuel – God with us. For that reason we have every cause to rejoice, to shout for joy like the daughter of Zion.
Second Reading (Philippians 4: 4-7)
Paul in this passage calls on the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord, they should be happy at the fact that the Lord is at hand. Despite the fact that Paul himself was in prison at the time of this writing and Epaphroditus his visitor was sick, he encourages the people to be happy— “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice.” He reminds them just like Zephaniah in the first reading, there is no need to worry. If there is anything they need they should pray well for it as prayer is the key for a Christian to open any door.
Gospel (Luke 3: 10-18)
The fundamental question to John the Baptist here is, “What then shall we do?” For each and every occupation, there is a task, but central to it all, is the fact that those who want to live a righteous life, must practice justice and mercy. They must not misuse power nor use their position in life to oppress others. That concerns all of us.
As we prepare for the Nativity of our Lord the issues that surround us this Advent season are enormous. Once more this year we struggle to find peace —peace among nations and among ethnic groups, peace in our own nation, peace in our work places, and peace even in our homes. As a nation, we are still facing the battle against terrorism which is also raging in many nations around the world.
There are other problems too –– the decline of the nuclear family, lack of housing, poverty on a high scale, dysfunctional families, drop in oil prices putting a strain on the economy, the exchange rates and many more. They number so many and are seemingly so intractable that we are tempted to give up and declare that there's nothing we can do to overcome them. The issues are too big, and we are too small. Sometimes we even think the problems are beyond individuals and should be left to governments to solve. Yet individuals make up the government, and government itself is supposed to represent the people.
Our Gospel today then calls for action. John’s message of the coming of the Messiah eventually got the people thinking and for that reason they came to him to ask, “What then shall we do?” The answer from John perhaps scandalised many. In an environment occupied by foreign government, the coming of the Messiah was expected by many to usher in self rule, victory over the enemy and prosperity. One would have expected John to preach that change and a message of hope. Instead, John preached a message of individual acceptance of the word of God. John preached a message of mercy. In an environment where people are not satisfied with their government, they often turn their anger on each other since they cannot reach the government, they cheat each other since that is not government business. John’s message is that MERCY towards each other is what can bring the desired change.
Let us focus on the few works of mercy mentioned by John in this passage:
“He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food should do the same.” This message of John strikes at the heart of poverty in the world of today. There are many who barely have anything good to put on. Jesus took on the same message in his description of the final judgement saying, “For I was hungry and you gave me to eat, I was naked, you clothed me…” John is demanding, that his own form of mercy is the type that entails sacrifice. John’s plea is for authentic charity which will help the poor of the land by moving others to deliberately show mercy and kindness.
In this same society where some go in rags, there are those who buy ‘Aso Ebi’ on a regular basis and do not wear such more than once, only to store them up in their wardrobes. There are those who have clothes they've not worn for years. Here is a season that calls for house cleaning to give out those things. In the same society where some scavenge for anything to eat at dumpsites, you find some wasting food carelessly. Those who have food therefore, should share with others. We all look to God asking, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Is it not time we also look into the eyes of those around us and feed them to satisfy their hunger?
To the Tax Collectors,—those in public service and all who render service already paid for in their salaries—John responded, “Collect no more than is appointed you.” Christian charity and mercy demands fairness and sincerity in what we do. To take no more than is appointed means the trader will not sell beyond a decent profit margin, excessive gain is unchristian; that everyone will be sincere in the way they deal with money; that Government officials will not betray public trust and employers of labour will pay what is due in good time.
John demanded of Soldiers—those who defend the land and those who enforce the laws of the land,— “Rob no one by violence or by false accusation and be content with your wages.” There are too many uniforms out there today. Everyone in uniform, particularly service men and women under whatever name, must realise that, they represent the people and the nation. The respect they get is not for the uniform but the honour due to the nation. Like Fela once sang, “Uniform na Cloth, na Tailor they Sew Am.” No one should feel too important because he wears a uniform, rather it is something that calls for service and greater responsibility. It is therefore a show of disrespect to the nation, when someone in uniform engages in acts of violence, when those in uniform turn their weapons on armless civilians and use their instruments of office to extort money from the same people they are called to protect. They by such actions destroy the faith of the people in their nation as a protecting father.
Our society will become a better place for all to live when individuals imbibe the lesson of mercy, when we stop thinking that morality is a private issue, when we go beyond the free market morals and work for peace and justice.
Let us pray: May the Lord make us instruments of his justice and mercy in the world of our time. Amen. May the Almighty God bless you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
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