Word Alive — Fr. Bel San Luis SVD / December 15, 2024
3rd Sunday of Advent – C
The message of this 3rd Sunday of Advent is “gaudete” which means “rejoice” or “be joyful.” We are joyful, first and foremost, because God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
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John the Baptist, the dominant figure in the season of Advent, continues to exhort us how to prepare for the coming of the Lord. He says that our faith must be tangible and productive.
In very concrete terms, he goes on to say, “Whoever has two shirts must give one to the man who has none, and whoever has food must share it.”
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To the tax collectors: “Don’t collect more than what is legal.” To the soldiers: “No extortion; do not bully, no false charges. Be content with your pay” (cf. Lk 3,11).
These words were spoken more than 2000 years ago yet, interestingly, they apply to our times.
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This is also true with our talents and wealth. They must be used not only for oneself but also shared with others. As the dictum puts it, “Charity begins at home.” But it does not end there.
Once, there was a very rich man. One day he suddenly became extremely ill. His temperature soared to over 40 centigrade.
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His frightened wife sent for a doctor. After examining the patient, the doctor said, “Madam, I’m sorry I must tell you that your husband is terminally ill. He cannot possibly survive. All I can suggest to you is prayer.”
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Hearing this, the worried husband ordered his wife, “Go out and find some needy person and give him a gift of money. Then go to church and pray that God may spare my life.”
The wife immediately followed his order. Miraculously, the husband’s condition rapidly improved and within days he had completely recovered.
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The wife related to the husband what she did. “Why did you give all my money away?” he bellowed. “But you yourself told me to do it,” she told him.
To which he replied, “But with my temperature over 40 centigrade, didn’t you know I was delirious then? I didn’t know what I was saying!”
You may laugh at the miser’s answer but aren’t we like him at times? Even if we have more than enough material resources, we hold on to them tightly.
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The fearless John the Baptist tells us today: “Be generous; share your goods with others.”
There are numerous people today who don’t have the luxury of receiving Christmas bonuses, and 13th or 14th month pay. Unfortunately, this is because they are not employed.
Our faith must be active in works of love. For “faith, without works, is dead” (St. James 2,14).
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As we move closer to Christmas and move deeper into Advent, the real preparation must not come so much in putting the spirit of Christmas into words. Christian faith is primarily not to be known but to be done.
