Third Sunday of Advent

by T. Matthew Rowgh

In my last parish assignment in southern West Virginia the Ministerial Association was quite active similar to Shepherdstown. The ministers and church communities did a great deal together. One day prior to Christmas the ministers all took their turn and we rang the bell for the Salvation Army. And so for 12 years I rang the bell, begging for money that the Salvation Army needed to provide Christmas dinner and gifts. Of all the various churches, religious denominations, I think the Salvation Army is one of the closest to real people, the poor, the homeless, those in need.

I have learned that the Salvation Army was founded in the slums of London in 1865 when England was not very kind to its poor. Early on William Booth the founder was even arrested for his charitable work. But he persevered and by 1880 he was ready to send his troops to America where the Salvation Army numbers in the thousands and is present in every major city in all fifty states. This is actually the first town I’ve lived in that has no Salvation Army.

The story is told that one Christmas, Booth wished to send a cable to the Salvation Army posts all over the world. A long cable was out of the question—it would have cost too much money. So he chose to cable one word. That Christmas, Booth greeted his coworkers around the world with this cable: Others! As he searched for one word that would say it all, expressing what their work for the gospel was all about. Others! seemed to say it. To live the gospel life of Christ leads us to be involved in the lives of others, giving and receiving from others. We make a difference in the lives of others, others inevitably make a difference in our lives.

We have John the Baptist as the central character in the gospel once again this Sunday. He is rather eccentric but at the same time he is quite popular. People from every walk of life gathered around him. While some came out of curiosity, others were motivated by religious fervor. His preaching caught their attention and spoke to them on some deeper level. And so they asked, What ought we to do? What does this mean in my life? What direction do I need to take?

You would probably expect this ascetic to make some radical demands, like leave everything and join me in the desert, adopt a life of fasting and praying but he doesn’t. He is being true to his call and he admonishes others to be true to their call. Live a life that is genuinely attentive to the lives of others!

How you live impacts the lives of others, and likewise, others will impact your lives! Be faithful to yourselves, and be faithful to others!

• Those who have more than they need, share with those who have less!
• Tax collectors, be honest!
• Soldiers, do not take advantage of the vulnerable!
• Parents, cherish your children!
• Spouses, be faithful!
• Neighbors, live in peace with those around you!

God promises peace and restoration…but it will not simply drop down from the heavens. As we grow in awareness of others, we are actually involved in the fashioning of this New World.

As we gather at the altar for Eucharist, let us be aware that we do not gather as individuals but rather we are one among many. Others are an important part of this Eucharist, and this celebration leads us ultimately to see ourselves as involved in the lives of others!