3rd Sunday of Advent – Homily
A close friend of mine has shared with me that he had a recent encounter with one of his siblings after more than 35 years of no contact, over a personal misunderstanding. He spent more than an hour, having a heart to heart talk with his sibling. He added this meeting, this Advent felt very different. It is very moving! The season has led his heart to have more concern and care this sibling, like an inner ecstatic rejoicing, as a result of a repaired relationships. As they started to heal, and rebuild block by block, towards a healthier relationship between them, their healing hearts also start radiate and emit the Joy of Christ.
Our Third Sunday of Advent is also always known as “Gaudete Sunday” – to rejoice and be glad because the Lord is near. As we are fast approaching Christmas, it is also time for us to repair any of our broken relationships, roll back all our worries, frustrations and hurt feelings and let GOD be in control of them. Advent season is also that time that gives us an opportunity to undergo another positive transformation. It prepares our hearts to welcome the Lord, again, into our lives, and one of the best way of healing is really to repent for our wrong doings and ask for His intimate forgiveness. Just ask sincerely, “God, I am sorry … forgive me for …”
Truly, it’s a guarantee that this season of Advent, will be extra special, because we make every effort to correct ourselves, and reconcile with our unfinished or unsettled “businesses”. Jesus will be born in our humble abode of our hearts, and the we will definitely feel the fiery joy of Christmas, lighting our paths in our the gloom of our hearts.
We have arrived the 3rd Sunday of Advent, and John the Baptist shows us the Light and the Light is getting brighter and brighter as we come closer to Christmas. Today’s Gospel (Jn 1: 6-8, 19-28) speaks about the work of John the Baptist calls us “to bear witness to the Light.” Before the arrival of Jesus, people were living in darkness and waiting for the Light. When the Light came into the world, it dispelled the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome the Light. The Light of Christ can never be extinguished from our lives, and with Hope, Love and Jesus, the Light of our lives penetrates sharply and overcomes our spiritual darkness, and shining our paths, so that we may walk in the Light of Truth. That way, we can always see where we are walking, and hopefully reduce our slips, trips and falls.
One of our life purposes, is to search for happiness. From time to time, we lose this happiness in our lives because we left the main highway, and pursue worldly things. We easily pick up bad habits and be distracted from our main highway to the Heavens, and before we know it – we are back in the dark cold surrounding. Guess what, that could be temporary – and we can discipline ourselves and get back to the main road, by dropping unhealthy attitudes and behaviour. Push away our pride, selfishness – instead make way for humility and charitable heart. That way, you reopen that door in your hearts and let the joy of Christ, radiate back into our lives. It is hard and not easy, but it’s definitely doable, letting go and let God! Jesus will bring with Him, gifts of inner peace and joy, and that state of feeling safe? That’s Jesus, and no one can and will separate us.
Therefore, we should always be joyful and rejoice in the Lord, (1 Thess 5: 16-24), and pray unceasingly. Pray today that we may have the courage to straighten up those rough, rocky and rugged spots in our lives and make way for the Christmas Light to shine strong and bright in our lives. Rejoice, Rejoice, Rejoice!
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