Third Sunday of Advent
First reading: Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11
Second reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Gospel: Saint John 1:6-8, 19-28
Of Becoming a Joyful Witness
Saint John the Baptist holds the lamp by which we see Jesus as the light of the world. He does not allow himself to cast any shadow on the good news of the coming he proclaims: he stands out of the way and draws all the attention to the promised Christ. In Christ, not in ourselves, lies the source of all our joy in this Advent season – and always!
Friends, today, we have arrived, right in the middle of the Advent season. We have arrived on our half way before Christmas. The third Sunday of advent is called ‘Rejoice Sunday!’ Therefore, today, we light the rose candle or the ‘CANDLE OF JOY’, to express our joy in the coming of Jesus Christ, our Savior. The common theme running through today’s readings is that of “JOYOUS WITNESS.”
Our first reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah, speaks of a very turbulent period in the history of Israel when the people of Israel were just back after the traumatic experience of the Babylonian exile. They were in a way trying to put things together. They were trying to re-establish themselves. The prophet speaks of “ the spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of Lord’s favour.” We see these words of prophet Isaiah, being fulfilled in the person and in the public ministry of Jesus (Luke 4:16).
In our second reading Saint Paul says, “Rejoice and be happy at all times and pray without ceasing”. Give thanks to God in all circumstances, for this is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus. Hold on to what is good and avoid every form of evil.
When we come to the Gospel, we have the prologue of Saint John. It’s a beautiful hymn, which speaks of Jesus as the Incarnate Word and it also speaks of a clear distinction between John the Baptist and Jesus. “John himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. Johns’ sole purpose in life was to manifest of becoming a true witness of Jesus the Messiah. John demonstrates this by his very life what it means to bear witness to Jesus, the light of the world.
The temple authorities from Jerusalem were concerned about John the Baptist’s ministry. Since they thought, John is the son of a priest (Zechariah), so he may be planning a revolt against the Romans. Therefore, the temple priests send a delegation to question John. John’s baptismal rite was only a symbolic action, a Baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. John’s ministry was effective solely because his life was his message. He lived what he preached. His role was to prepare the way for Jesus. Therefore, John says, "He must increase, I must decrease”.
Friends, we, the church, are called to bear witness to Christ by word and deed, in good times and in bad – in season and out of season. When it suits us and when it doesn’t. We are the messengers, and faithful witnesses, who point out Christ to others, just as John did. John the Baptist’s role as a joyful witness prepared the way for Jesus. John also provides an example for us because our vocation as Christians is to bear “witness” – a faithful witness having a personal encounter with Christ.