Third Sunday of Advent, C Cycle, December 17, 2006

Scripture: Zephaniah 3:14-18. Isaiah 12:1-6; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18.

The third Sunday brings new and fresh expectations to this season of Advent. We are getting closer to a great event, the birth of the Messiah. Wonder and excitement are seen in the readings; songs, shouting out Good News, and joy are in the air. Our entire set of readings are like an overture or prologue for the remaining octave of days before the birth of Jesus, Son of God become Son of Mary in the history of the world's salvation. Zephania addresses the Daughter of Zion. For me this is a symbol for Mary, the Mother of the Messiah. Like the city of Jerusalem (Zion), Mary will sing out with joy and rejoice for the great King is within her and is soon to be born. She is not afraid for she has listened to the Lord and given her undivided attention while saying her courageous and "risky" yes. Our Psalm response also has mention of the city of Jerusalem and says her to "shout with exultation for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel." Remember that Gabriel told Mary..."and the one to be born of you will be called Holy." Mary rejoices and sings her hymn of praise, the Magnificat. Paul, too, is telling us to rejoice always in the Lord for the Lord is near. The word Gaudete means rejoice in Latin and has been used for this third Sunday. It comes from the passage we are citing and listening to from Paul in his letter to the Philippians. It also reminds of the greeting the Angel gave to Mary, "Rejoice, O highly favored one." Then, in his most climatic preaching, we hear John the Baptist telling everyone to turn to the Lord; to have a complete topsy-turvy change of behavior and mindsets and to surrender our controlling desires and power plays. All deceit and envy are to be left aside. The Lord is near. God's plan of salvation is unfolding in the person of Mary giving birth to the Messiah. We listen to the last sentence of today's Gospel of Luke: "Using exhortations of this sort, he (John the Baptist) preached the good news to the people." We join with Zephania, Isaiah, Paul, John the Baptist and especially with Mary as we say," MARANATHA...Come, Lord (Jesus), Come!"