THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (C)
Luke 3, 10-18
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| Rev. Fr.Valentine de Souza S.J. |
“What should we do then?” the crowd asked. John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay”
The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.
The preaching of John the Baptist shook the consciences of many. The prophet in the desert was telling them aloud what they were thinking in their hearts: they needed to change, return to God, prepare to receive the Messiah. Some of them approached him with this question: "What should we do then?"
John has thought out his message very clearly. He does not want to add new religious practices to their lives. He does not ask them to stay on in the desert doing penance. He does not speak of new precepts. They have to receive the Messiah by caring for the needy.
He is not lost in sublime theories or in profound motivation. In a direct way, in the most pure prophetic style, he summarizes everything in a brilliant formula: “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.” And we, what must we do to welcome Christ into this society in crisis?
First of all, try harder to find out what’s happening: lack of information is the first reason for our doing nothing. On the other hand, do not tolerate lies or cover-up of the truth. We must know in all its brutal reality the suffering unjustly being caused among us.
It wont do to be satisfied with little acts of generosity. We must take steps towards a more sober way of life; to dare to experience “impoverishing ourselves” little by little, cutting down on our present level of prosperity to share with the most needy so many things we have and don’t need.
We can take special care of those who have got into serious situations of social exclusion: those evicted, deprived of health care, without any income or other social resources… We must instinctively go out in defense of those sinking helplessly, or have lost all motivation to face their future.
In Christian communities we must develop various initiatives to be close to cases of social abandonment that hurt the most: specific information of situations, mobilization of people so as not to leave anyone out; provision of material resources, management of possible aid…
It’s going to be a long crisis. In the coming years we are going to be given the chance to humanize our crazy consumerism, make ourselves more sensitive to the suffering of victims, grow in practical solidarity, contribute to denouncing the lack of compassion in the management of the crisis… It will be our way of welcoming Christ more truly, realistically, in our lives.
WHAT SHOULD WE DO?
José Antonio Pagola
John has thought out his message very clearly. He does not want to add new religious practices to their lives. He does not ask them to stay on in the desert doing penance. He does not speak of new precepts. They have to receive the Messiah by caring for the needy.
He is not lost in sublime theories or in profound motivation. In a direct way, in the most pure prophetic style, he summarizes everything in a brilliant formula: “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.” And we, what must we do to welcome Christ into this society in crisis?
First of all, try harder to find out what’s happening: lack of information is the first reason for our doing nothing. On the other hand, do not tolerate lies or cover-up of the truth. We must know in all its brutal reality the suffering unjustly being caused among us.
It wont do to be satisfied with little acts of generosity. We must take steps towards a more sober way of life; to dare to experience “impoverishing ourselves” little by little, cutting down on our present level of prosperity to share with the most needy so many things we have and don’t need.
We can take special care of those who have got into serious situations of social exclusion: those evicted, deprived of health care, without any income or other social resources… We must instinctively go out in defense of those sinking helplessly, or have lost all motivation to face their future.
In Christian communities we must develop various initiatives to be close to cases of social abandonment that hurt the most: specific information of situations, mobilization of people so as not to leave anyone out; provision of material resources, management of possible aid…
It’s going to be a long crisis. In the coming years we are going to be given the chance to humanize our crazy consumerism, make ourselves more sensitive to the suffering of victims, grow in practical solidarity, contribute to denouncing the lack of compassion in the management of the crisis… It will be our way of welcoming Christ more truly, realistically, in our lives.
Contribute to fostering compassion for those who suffer
Jose Antonio Pagola, vgentza@euskalnet.net , San Sebastian, Guipuzcoa, Spain.
English Translation by Valentine de Souza S.J. Mandal, Gujarat , India.394650
Hello, my name is Jack Sparrow. I'm a 50 year old self-employed Pirate from the Caribbean. 
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