Third Sunday of Advent, Year C
If we hear a message from a prophet of the Lord, we look for a message of hope. However, the messages received from prophets don’t always seem hopeful. They foretell of defeat. I’ve spoken of this recently when our first reading comes from a prophet.
Today’s first reading comes from the Book of the Prophet Zephaniah. Zephaniah prophesizing around fifty years before the fall of Jerusalem and the Babylonian Exile. The messages he delivered for the Lord spoke of the moral and spiritual decline of Judah.
However, like the other prophets, Zephaniah did not always prophesize about the fall of Israel. In today’s passage, he delivered a message of hope. He spoke of the future day when the Lord removes his judgment from them and turns away their enemies. In doing so, he presents a message of hope and calls Israel to shout for joy with all their hearts.
I know I am repeating myself here from other articles and homilies but the world today is in decline. How many bad events do we hear about in the news?
Is there any reason for hope?
Of course there is! We are approaching a season of great hope, Christmas! Why is Christmas a time of great hope? The answer to this question can be found in the words of the angel to the shepherds at the first Christmas, “For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord” (from the gospel reading for the Mass During the Night at Christmas).
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, incarnate in the flesh. He became man to save us from our sins. “The LORD, your God, is in your midst.” Rejoice!
Do you give the Lord free and complete access to your heart and soul, or do you hold him at a distance?
The world may seem a dismal place in many ways. While technological innovation has brought wars to levels of incredible destruction, wars and conflict are nothing new. How are we to endure? In his grace, God will renew us in his love.
Even when we have sinned ourselves, hope is not lost. When we genuinely repent of our sins, God will forgive us because Jesus offered his life as a sacrifice for our sins. Because Jesus offered his life as an act of love for our sins, God forgives us.
Will the world ever change for the better?
Nothing is impossible for God!
Pope Francis says in his papal bull, “Spes Non Confundit,” for the jubilee year of hope that there are billions of hungry people in the world” (15). What will it take to change this? We must do as John the Baptist told the crowds, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” It is possible to end hunger. If you have more than you need, are you willing to let God work through you to end hunger?
The tax collectors were known for overtaxing and keeping the extra for themselves. John the Baptist says to them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” Do you take more than you need without helping the poor? How many wars involve people fighting over land and water just to have enough to eat and drink?
John the Baptist tells the soldiers, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.” Do you obtain what you need by honest means? Do you lie to get what you want? Do you want more money than what you are due? How many wars start with greed? How many lies just lead to more lies, by the original liar or by others in response?
If any of these sinful behaviors apply to you, then repent! Rejoice in what the Lord offers you.
The world may seem dismal and stuck in sin. Remember the words of the psalmist, “God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid.”
“Rejoice in the Lord always” and you will find hope.
Paul calls us to “have no anxiety at all.” He doesn’t say that we won’t have any problems or sufferings. He says, “have no anxiety at all.” When we face distress, we are to make our requests known to God.
“Then, the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
The peace that God offers transcends earthly suffering. It calls us to look beyond the distress to focus on the hope of eternal life that we have in Jesus Christ.
Peace,
Fr. Jeff