3rd Week of Advent
17th December 2023 (Sunday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 3
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.
Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54 (R. Isaiah 61:10b)
R/. My soul shall exult in my God.
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Brethren: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel : John 1:6-8, 19-28
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptise with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptising.
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Highlight: Let joy abound always!
Guidlines: It is quite natural that everyone seeks happiness. But true joy can be found only in God and good. Enjoyments and pleasures are not real joy, because they can never quench the deeper thirst for satisfaction and fulfilment {alertSuccess}
1. This 3rd Sunday of Advent is known as the Sunday of joy, and the readings radiate this joy. The first reading from the prophet Isaiah announces: "I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul". The responsorial psalm is the Magnificat of Mary, which is an exuberant hymn of joy. The second reading from the I Thessalonians continues the same tone and mood of joy with the call to "rejoice always". The gospel too is permeated with the same spirit of joy, though not explicit.
2. Now, why should there be joy? Why should we rejoice? What is there to rejoice? The reality seems to be bleak and dark. There seem to be more reasons to grieve and lament, rather than to be glad and praise. 3. But nothing of these should snatch away our spirit of joy, because it is deep-seated in God and in our faith. Our joy is in God. Our joy comes from our unfailing faith and unswerving hope in the Lord’s promises and assurance. 4. The Word of God clearly outlines the reasons for joy, along with the call to be joyful. Isaiah says, “I rejoice, because he has clothed me with a robe of salvation, and wrapped me with a mantle of justice … because the Lord has adorned me like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, and like a bride is bedecked with jewels”. He rejoices further, because there is healing to the broken hearted, liberty to the captives, release to the prisoners, a year of favour and day of vindication from the Lord. 5. Mary sings in the Mgnificat, “My soul rejoices and my spirit exults, for he has looked upon his lowly servant, for he has blessed me abundantly and unceasingly, for he has done great things for me”. 6. Therefore, rejoice, because the Lord comes to us, the Lord intervenes into our life, the Lord changes our life. Should we not rejoice? God’s abiding presence, God’s caring providence, God’s tender closeness, God’s uplifting justice, God’s hearty compassion, God’s indulgent mercy, God’s mighty liberation, and God’s abundant generosity, God’s unfailing fidelity – Are these not enough reasons to rejoice? 7. Therefore, why to feel distant, abandoned and alienated when God is near? Why feel uncared and anxious when he is provident? Why feel unwanted and unloved when he is so close? Why feel victim of injustice and deceit when the just God is with us? Why feel disheartened when God is so compassionate? Why feel depressed and let down under the weight of sin, when he is so merciful? Why feel bound and imprisoned, when God is liberating? Why feel lacking and deprived, when God is immensely generous? 8. All that is needed to experience this joy even amidst the multiple shades of sadness, is to trust him, with deep faith and unfailing prayer; trust in his promises, trust in his love and salvation. Entrust ourselves to him, in deep humility and surrender. And carry on his mission, with unflinching zeal, with the unquenchable Spirit, and in a spirit of testimony. 9. This is what John the Baptist did. He was conscious of his identity. He knew himself to be a voice that announces the coming of the Lord and the precursor who prepares the way of the Lord. He could easily claim himself to be the awaited Messiah as many thought so. But he truthfully denied to be the Christ, Elijah or the prophet. Even though he was riding high on popularity, with overwhelming humility, he lowers himself as unworthy even to untie the sandals of the Messaiah. 10. Ultimately it is a life of witness that is the greatest way to experience and promote that deep and lasting joy. This implies humility, authenticity, a life of sanctity and righteousness that avoids every form of evil and clings to what is good.Practice: Let us then be the containers and carriers of joy. Let joy be contagious! So that this positive and healthy contagion would displace and dispel the destructive virus of sadness and badness.{alertSuccess}