What must we do?

 

This will be the second Christmas celebrated under the shadow of COVID-19 and many people again aren't looking forward to what is usually the ‘jolliest’ season of the year.  I am!  Even though I’m getting as frustrated as I have ever been with this "virus that never dies" that we’re all living in the shadow of, I’m JOYFULLY looking forward to Christmas--almost as much as I did when I was a kid, but for different reasons.

As a kid, it was because I was looking forward to the presents (who didn't?).  But now that I'm older and *ahem* wiser I realize it's because of the hope that the birth of Christ brings to us!  I for one, am following that star.

When a dad or mom are troubled and anxious about paying bills or finding work, it's so hard for them to respond with a happy laugh when their child bounces into the room, just bursting with joyful news.  Worry can put a real damper on the joy of this season.  If we don't have hope in our future, or trust in God's love and care for us, how can we respond with joy to the Good News that Christ’s arrival is imminent?

Yet that's the spirit of the Third Sunday of Advent, "Gaudete Sunday" as it's sometimes called, from the Latin word for "Rejoice"!  The first hearers of Zephaniah's prophecy must have gone wild with joy as he told them that the Lord had removed His original harsh judgment against them.  This ordinarily gloomy prophet urged them to rejoice and shout for joy, for God was in their midst [Zephaniah 3:14-18].

St. Paul spoke in similar terms to the Philippians as he urged them to always rejoice, for the Lord's coming is close at hand.  In fact, He is here now - Emmanuel - God is with us!  In effect, God is telling us, "Stop worrying! I want a joyful heart and unconditional trust in my care for you!" [Philippians 4:4-7]

Isn't it time in our journey toward eternal life that we take to heart those words which we have heard every Advent of our lives?  If we really haven't taken this truth to heart, then we can’t really stir up much reason for joy, especially as Christmas draws near.

We’re often far more present to the media news reports of people committing adultery (or--in an effort to "soften" the sin calling it "infidelity"), murders, rapes, and the horrors of war and racism than we are to the great truth that God lives in the midst of His people, including our family and fellow-workers.  Do we want to see God?  Then we must look into the eyes of our neighbors.  If we don't see love there, then we must give them our loving smile.

This daily exercise of finding God in others is the key to a good preparation for another coming of Jesus into our sad world this Christmas.  It's time to stir up our faith that, as it really happened two thousand years ago, it’s really happening again in 2021.

If we really believe that God has saved us, then that joy should make us serious about changing our lives.  In the Gospel, soldiers, shopkeepers, politicians and clergy were all among that desert crowd listening to John the Baptist.  As he persuaded them that the Messiah was really near, many anxiously shouted out to John, "What must we do?" [Luke 3:10-18]

As we get rid of needless anxiety, may we rejoice with the Church today, and resolve to trust more completely that the mysteries of Christ's birth, our redemption through His death and resurrection, are indeed worth celebrating!