Welcoming the Holy
Here we invite you to take time for yourself in personal prayer. The following spiritual reflection offers words and images which we hope will evoke for you an experience of God.
By: Sister Karen Dietz
Opening Prayer
Give thanks to God, acclaim the name of God; among the nations make known God’s deeds, proclaim how exalted is our God! (Isaiah 12: 4)
Scripture
Luke 3: 10 – 18
The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?” He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?” He told them, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.”
Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.
Reflection
A number of years ago Nike had a slogan “Just do it!” I think the slogan that might accompany this reading today would be “Just DON”T do it!” Today we celebrate Gaudete Sunday – the Advent Sunday of JOY. The first reading from the prophet Zephaniah and the second from Philippians certainly call us to be people rooted in joy. These days that may be a challenge. We continue to be inundated with news of war and violence, of inhumane treatment of others on our city streets and around the world. Joy is desired, but perhaps hard to find.
John, when asked by the people he was baptizing what they should do gives us all the “don’ts” or “stop doing …” as a prescription for the new life of conversion into which he is baptizing. As I reflect on these, this really is the prescription for JOY. If we gave to the poor from what we have, did not cheat others or falsely accuse them, and fed the hungry we would know joy. When people come to volunteer at Bethany House or when I visit with staff at St. Ann’s Community, I often hear that the people they serve “give me more than I give them.”
As we begin this third week of Advent, inching closer to the Christmas Feast, I pray we may remember the lessons of John the Baptist. Christmas joy is not about how many cards we send or gifts we buy or cookies we bake. It is about giving from the depths of our coffers and from our heart. It is there that this joy can be found.
Closing Prayer
Say to the faint of heart: Be strong and do not fear. Behold, our God will come, and he will save us.
