Commentary
Sunday, 12/16/2018, Third Sunday of Advent
Joy, No Fear and Renewed Love
First Reading Commentary: Zephaniah 3:14-18a
Sing for joy for there is no more judgement against us. Be not afraid for the LORD is in our midst. Our mighty Savior will renew His love in us. These are the messages of Zephaniah’s prophecy in today’s first reading. This is not a prophecy about the coming of Christ. Zephaniah is telling us that God is already with us and Zephaniah tells us about God’s plan for us.
God is always with us. He is all around us even during troubled times when we are at our weakest and fail to realize His presence. Every day, I read the daily devotion from the book Jesus Calling. Part of the meditation for December 5th is this: “Whenever you feel distant from Me, say: ‘Surely the LORD is in this place!’ Then, ask Me to give you awareness of My Presence.”
I find myself needing to do this a lot. Most of us do but not all of us realize it. We get so overburdened with the trials and tribulations of daily life that we forget that God is at our side and nothing pleases Him more than for us to call on Him. God does not want us to try to fix our own problems. First of all, we cannot fix our own problems because we don’t have the answers although we like to think that we do. God has all of the answers and solutions and all He wants is for us to acknowledge His being with us by asking Him for help.
Some of our problems are self-inflicted as a result of sin. Not a problem. God is all merciful and forgiving and our sins have been washed away by the Blood of Christ on the cross. All we have to do is acknowledge that fact by confessing and repenting for the sins that we deliberately commit.
When we allow God to work in us and through us, no harm can come to us because God will protect us. No matter what may happen in this physical life, nothing can hurt us spiritually and therefore, nothing can keep us from our eternal life in heaven and therefore, we have absolutely nothing to fear!
Our mighty Savior has already renewed His love in us. Jesus did that by making a new covenant with us promising His Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew 5:3-12. Jesus then solidified His love in us by leaving our sins on the cross and defeating death with His Glorious Resurrection. For this reason, Christ was born. Preparing ourselves to celebrate His Nativity is what we do during Advent.
What Should We Do?
Second Reading Commentary: Luke 3:10-18
What should I do? We often ask ourselves that question whenever faced with a difficult situation or any time we have a choice to make. Even the little things in life will cause us to ask that question or something very similar to it. For example, what should I wear today or what should I have for lunch? But how often do we ask ourselves, how can I be closer to God?
The crowds were pondering this question when they asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?” Interestingly, the advice that John the Baptist gave the people was to obey the Second Greatest Commandment: Love thy neighbor as thyself.
John the Baptist did not use those words but what he did say was, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” In other words, take care of those who are without and that principle is at the heart of loving your neighbor as yourself.
Even tax collectors and soldiers asked John the Baptist what they should do. He gave them the same message by saying, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed…do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.” In other words, stop stealing from people, stop persecuting people and don’t be greedy. They are also sinning against the Second Greatest Commandment.
Corrupt politicians and government officials all over the world should take today’s gospel from Luke to heart. So, should false prophets who call themselves proclaiming God’s Word when in reality, their primary concern is their own financial gain and/or personal self-interests. The same is true for those who are in a ministry designed to carry out God’s work but they fail to do so from the heart.
The teachings of John the Baptist made people question whether he could be the Christ. He sounded like he could be by doing his part in preparing the way of the Lord and he did that by proclaiming many of the messages that Jesus would give us Himself. John the Baptist was the perfect person to proclaim the coming of the Lord because he was so much like Jesus. John was Godlike because John’s faith was that strong. We can learn from the example of John the Baptist that when our faith is so strong that it is absolute and unquestionable, it will radiate in such a way that people will see God within us.
I have commented before that Jesus did not have to be humble in His humanity because He was God the Son. But He was humble and John the Baptist showed this trait as well with his answer to the people about being the Christ. He said, “…one mightier than I is coming…I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.”
Take a moment to think about John’s humility. Then take a moment to think about how Jesus would later come to John with absolute humility and ask to be baptized by John. Jesus was not only humble to John—Jesus is humble to all of us and He proved that by shedding His blood on the cross for us.
In his answer to the people, John the Baptist also said, “I am baptizing you with water…He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” This was more than just a prophecy of baptism—it was a prophecy of what baptism is and as such, it was a proclamation of the Trinity.
When Jesus was baptized, the Trinity was present for all to witness. The Holy Spirit descended like a dove and the Father spoke saying, “You are my beloved Son with you I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17, Mark 1:11& Luke 3:22 When Jesus instructed His Apostles to go and make disciples of all nations, He told the Apostles to baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19
When we are baptized into Christianity in the way that Jesus instructed His Apostles, the Holy Spirit descends upon us, we are filled with the Spirit and both the Father and the Son acknowledge us as one of Their children. Where there is One person of the Trinity; there are all Three. Therefore, when we are filled with the Spirit, we are filled with God.
The final message in today’s gospel is both a warning and a prophecy of Good News. John the Baptist said, “His winnowing fan…to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Once again, we are given a message during this Advent season that points to the Second Coming of Christ and the last day. The day of: final judgement. The day when we will either experience, the second death of being thrown into the fires of hell or blessed with eternal life and welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven.
So, what should we do? Today's gospel makes me think of four things. 1- Remember that Jesus did not come to destroy or to condemn. Jesus came to save! 2- Follow the example of John the Baptist and all of the saints. 3- Have faith in God and live according to the Word of Jesus Christ. 4- Pray, pray and pray! It is good to have a little talk with the Lord every once in a while—as often as possible.
