Sunday Mass Gospel
Reflection
A Reading
from the holy Gospel
according to
Luke 3:10-18
The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What
should we do?” He said to them in reply,
“Whoever has two cloaks should share
with the person who has none. And
whoever has food should do likewise.”
Even tax collectors came to be baptized
and they said to him, “Teacher, what
should we do?” He answered them, “Stop
collecting more than what is prescribed.”
Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it
that we should do?” He told them, “Do not
practice extortion, do not falsely accuse
anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.”
Now the people were filled with
expectation, and all were asking in their
hearts whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, saying, “I am
baptizing you with water, but one mightier
than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen
the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize
you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His
winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his
threshing floor and to gather the wheat
into his barn, but the chaff he will burn
with unquenchable fire.” Exhorting them
in many other ways, he preached good
news to the people.
December 12, 2021
Last week's Gospel focused on John the Baptist and his
role in preparing the way for Christ, and this week's Gospel
continues that theme. Today's gospel recounts John the
Baptist's instructions about anticipating the arrival of the One
who is more powerful than he and what to do in preparation
for the One who is coming. John's preaching had instilled in
the people a sense of expectation, which was building.
On this Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent,
we are reminded that this is a joyful time, not only because
we are expecting the celebration of Christ's birth, but also
because God is already present in our midst. The presence of
the Lord in our midst calls us to rejoice and "shout for joy"
above all else. However, the joy that we are being reminded
of is one of expectancy and anticipation of the Lord's second
coming, not one of merriment. Until then, that joy must
inspire in us a sense of responsibility, honesty, and integrity,
as John preaches in today's gospel.
Jesus comes into our world to redeem us everyone,
not to criticize or condemn us. The joy we must discover is in
prioritizing Christ's way over all others. John makes it plain
that there can be no mediocrity in following Jesus in his
response to the inquiry, "What must I do?" Those who choose
Jesus choose life because He is our Life, truth because He is
the eternal Truth, and joy because He is the source of joy.
Advent urges us to alter our perspectives and
behaviors. Today, we are being called by the gospel to make
concern for the other, not apathy, the fruit of our faith;
honesty, not deception, must come forth from our lips; and
integrity, not duplicity, must be our way of life.