By Father Paul Nord, O.S.B.
Sunday Scripture
First Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Responsorial: Isaiah 12:2-6; Second Reading: Philippians 4:4-7; Gospel: Luke 3:10-18
The prophecy of Zephaniah begins with God’s judgment against wickedness: “I will eliminate the people from the face of the land — oracle of the LORD. I will stretch out my hand against Judah, and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; I will eliminate from this place the last vestige of Baal, the name of the idolatrous priests” (Zephaniah 1:3-4).
By contrast, today’s reading comes from the final verses of Zephaniah. These command the Israelites to “Shout for joy!” and “Sing joyfully!” The reason to rejoice is given: “The LORD has removed the judgment against you; he has turned away your enemies!” This rejoicing is contrasted with the fear that they previously experienced: “Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!”
These verses (3:14-17) are spoken by the prophet, who calls the people to rejoice. The prophet’s words are a response to God’s words in 3:9-13, where God promises deliverance of the righteous inhabitants of Jerusalem — now that the rebellious have been destroyed (3:1-8). God will save his people, for “The LORD, your God, is in your midst.” The Israelites are told that God “will rejoice over you with gladness.” The time of judgment and suffering has passed. God rejoices over his people, and the people also should rejoice.
Today’s Responsorial Psalm is from Isaiah 12, which follows three prophecies that God will send a Messiah. First is the famous “Emmanuel” prophecy of Isaiah 7:14. Second is 9:5: “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us … Prince of Peace.” Third is Isaiah 11:1: “But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse.”
These “Messiah” prophecies promise that God will send a descendant of David as king to bring peace and justice. Isaiah 12 concludes the section with a song of trust and praise of God. It says: “God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid.” The Israelites “give thanks to the LORD” and “proclaim how exalted is his name.” They are confident that God will keep his promises of salvation.
The Third Sunday of Advent (today) is often called “Gaudete Sunday.” This name comes from the first word of the “entrance antiphon” for today’s Mass — “Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete.” That is: “Rejoice in the Lord always: again, I say, rejoice!”
This entrance antiphon is taken from today’s second reading — where St. Paul exhorts the Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord always!” This is similar to the first reading, where the prophet Zephaniah commanded the people to rejoice. The second reading is near the end of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. He is exhorting them to stay faithful to Jesus Christ. They should rejoice because “the Lord is near.”
The Philippians should show kindness to everyone, and they should “have no anxiety at all” because they trust in God’s providence. Paul tells them that when they are in need “by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.” Paul thus exhorts the Philippians to show complete trust in God. They should pray and ask God for what they need, but they should have no anxiety. If they trust that God will provide, they will have “the peace of God that surpasses all understanding.” This “will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” This is true peace of heart and mind — trusting in God completely.
John the Baptist is the focus of many Advent Gospel readings. This is because John prepares the way of the Lord Jesus’ coming — which is also what we are exhorted to do during Advent. We hear John the Baptist’s urgent message: “Prepare for the coming of the Lord!”
In today’s Gospel, John tells the crowds how they should prepare. First, they should care for those in need: “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” Second, they should treat other people with justice. He tells the tax collectors: “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” So also the soldiers should act justly: “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.” Both the tax collectors and the soldiers had power over the common people. John the Baptist commands them not to abuse their power by acting unjustly.
“Now the people were filled with expectation” because they thought that John the Baptist might be the Messiah (Christ) whom the prophets had foretold. But John insists that he is not the Messiah. John says that the Messiah “will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” John contrasts the Messiah’s baptism versus his own baptism “with water.” John’s baptism was a call to repentance — a call to prepare for the Messiah’s coming.
But Jesus the Messiah (the Christ) brings a far superior relationship between God and humanity. This is established by a baptism “with the Holy Spirit and fire.” The Messiah brings a new age — the kingdom of God — in which everything opposed to God is defeated. The prophets foretold that this new age would see an outpouring of God’s spirit. For example, the prophet Joel proclaimed God’s promise: “It shall come to pass I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and daughters will prophesy … Even upon your male and female servants, in those days, I will pour out my spirit” (Joel 2:27–3:2).
So Jesus brings an outpouring of God’s spirit upon humanity. As Jesus’ crucifixion approaches, he promises that his disciples will receive the Holy Spirit. St. Paul describes the Holy Spirit as a “first installment” (2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5) of God’s presence with us as we await the fullness of God’s kingdom when Christ comes again. When Jesus returns, he will also “judge the living and the dead.” Today’s gospel uses harvest imagery for this judgment. Jesus will “gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” This is a metaphor emphasizing that we all will be judged by Christ. And so we cry: “Lord have mercy!”