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Texts of the Readings
December
13, 2009
Third
Sunday in Advent (C)
Betty Jane Lillie, S.C.
Zep 3: 14-18a
X Is
12:2-6
X Phil 4: 4-7
X
Lk 3:10-18
As we draw closer to the celebration of Christmas the coming of
the Messiah is a continuing emphasis in the Scripture passages used in the
liturgy. In our Gospel reading a sense of expectancy leads the people to
wonder if John himself is actually the Christ. But John points consistently
to One who will come after him who is mightier than he is, and who will
baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (Lk 3:16) That was the Good
News that John preached.
If we reach back to the oracles of Zephaniah from which our
first reading is taken, the first two chapters take up the themes of doom
and judgment. Our reading from the third chapter turns to comfort and
consolation for those who wait for the Lord and serve him in good faith by a
virtuous life. It works out of the historical situation of the return of
the Babylonian exiles to their homeland and to Jerusalem, and thus of the
restoration of Gods people. A turnabout in the fortunes of Israel would
take place so that God would no longer look upon the rebellion of the
people, and the judgments against them would be taken away. The Lord who
was in their midst would rejoice over them and renew them in his love.
At the same time the people would return and also rejoice as at
the time of a festival celebration. The Psalm-like poem that continues to
the end of Zephaniahs oracles is reminiscent of the Psalms of the Lords
enthronement among his people. Their ingathering and the restoration of
their good fortune would make them renowned and praised among the peoples of
the earth. Thus some see here a fulfillment of the promises of the
Abrahamic covenant through which Gods people would be a great nation with a
great name. They would be blessed, and they would be a blessing to others.
In them all the peoples of the earth would bless themselves. (Gen 12:2-3)
Our Psalm Response is a beautiful passage from First Isaiah.
Since it is in poetic form it serves well as a responsorial prayer. Among
the oracles of the Prophet is a section called the Book of Emmanuel (Is
7:1-12:6) which presents glorious praises of a messianic king who would be
God with them. (Is 8:10) It is easy for us to apply these characteristics
to Jesus and we can give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his name in all the
earth. As Isaiah said, the Holy One is in our midst. We can shout and sing
for joy. (Is 12:1-6)
Pauls advice to the Philippians fits very well into our Advent
thinking. The Lord is at hand. Rejoice! Have no anxiety! It would be
interesting to speculate on what Paul would say about the anxieties of this
season of preparations for Christmas: gifts to buy, parties to plan,
decorations, and on and on. If we could have no anxieties about anything,
maybe we would be more free to rejoice, and in a thankful spirit to rest in
the peace of God, keeping our minds and hearts in Christ Jesus. (Phil
4:4-7)
In the spirit of Isaiah we can say that God is our salvation; we
will trust and not be afraid. (Is 12:2).
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