Rejoice Sunday

Dec 13^th, 15 Advent 3^rd  Sunday homily: Fr.Francis Chirackal CMI.

Zep 3:14-18a; Phil 4:4-7; Lk 3:10-18 

For Readings

http://www.usccb.org/nab/121315.shtml

According to an ancient Sufi story once a group of disciples decided to make a certain holy person their guru. But the holy one refused their request, saying "I'm afraid you don't understand. What you see in me is only a finger pointing at the moon. It is the moon you must seek." This is a cautionary tale. It warns us that we easily lose our way on the spiritual path when we lose sight of the moon. Today’s readings tell us to refocus our attention to prepare the way for Christ by fulfilling our God-given roles with its real spirit.

Today is ‘Gaudete Sunday’. We observe this ‘rejoice’ Sunday anticipating the joy of the arrival of Christ in our midst. Christmas is also a re-living of a historical joyful event of eternal salvation, which has already took place and also, a hope of a future event of rewarding, for which all are looking forward. In the first reading from the book of Zephaniah, he presents the prophesy of the days of joy which will be fulfilled with the coming of Jesus. The prophet declares the words of joy and hope. In the second reading from the letter to the Philippians, St.Paul invites us to focus our mind and heart on Jesus Christ. In the gospel, as a result of John’s preaching, waves of restlessness started in the hearts of people. They started to ask John the means to overcome the restlessness and John the Baptist tells them to turn to God and to do the daily responsibilities faithfully.

St.Paul was chained in the jail and was waiting for martyrdom. He knew that one day they will kill him because of his preaching the gospel message. His bitter experiences in the jail also gave him joy as he was looking forward to meeting Jesus in heaven. St.Francis of Assisi tried to follow Jesus as closely as possible. He was known as one of the happiest persons in the world. He lived a life of hard work, poverty, hunger, illness and the hardships of life. But none of these made him feel sad. All of these led him to the Creator and the same thing gave him joy. His focus was beyond all of these temporal goods and comforts. It is the same joy we need to draw from in today’s life.

According to John, our salvation comes from life with God, doing our God-given duties faithfully, doing good to others and sharing our blessings with others. He challenged them to look at their hearts. John’s call to repentance was a call to conversion for joy and restoration. Hearing John’s preaching and warnings, people responded in different ways as in all times to God’s Words. Some wanted to ignore it while some tried to ridicule it. One group tried to silence him, while another kept him at a distance, meanwhile a few wanted to kill him. Some saw in him a great prophet and wanted to listen to him and make changes in their lives. They came to him with their confused state and questions. John had the right and simple answers to everyone who approached him. He didn’t say to do anything extraordinary or special. He told them to continue their regular work, but with a different attitude of responsibility. He told them to do service without selfishness and greed. Listening to him a large crowd believed him, followed him and received the baptism of repentance. Many became his disciples. But he said not to follow him, but Jesus, the Lamb of God. Do we find ourselves in one of those groups?

During this Advent season, as we observe ‘Rejoice Sunday’ we need to look and see the God-given joys hidden in our day to day lives. For the eyes of hope, everything in our life is an unlimited potential joy. Here problems will lead to solutions and a better life, with ever growing hope. Pains, worries and sufferings of daily life will not leave us in sadness but will lead us to further peace and joy. We will see the meanings beyond the empirical world and experiences. We have the message of repentance, we have the message of love and hope, we have the means for our ever growing and never ending peace and joy. Let us find stars shining in our daily lives. God bless you.