3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (GAUDETE SUNDAY), YEAR C

Zephaniah 3:14-18
Isaiah 12:2-6 (Responsorial Hymn)
Philippians 4:4-7
Luke 3:10-18

GAUDETE SUNDAY

Pope Francis remarks that “there are Christians whose lives seem like Lent without Easter” (Evangelii gaudium, 6). Yes, there are people who always have funereal and morose faces. No smiling, no rejoicing, always complaining, always lamenting over the difficulties, sicknesses, losses, and problems of life. They have thousands of reasons not to be happy. And yet, today’s readings invite us to rejoice, because we are people of hope.

One of the most exciting invitations to joy in the Old Testament is today’s first reading: “Shout for joy, daughter Zion, Israel, shout aloud.” Prophet Zephaniah summons the people to jubilate, for the Lord is in their midst as a victorious warrior who comes to drive away their enemies and protect them (Zeph. 3:14-18).

The prophet Isaiah in the responsorial hymn exhorts the inhabitants of Zion to shout aloud and sing for joy, for great in their midst is the Holy One of Israel (Is. 12:2-6). In the second reading, St Paul admonishes the Philippians to always be happy or rejoice, for the Lord is very near. He also exhorts them to present their needs to God with prayer and thanksgiving (Phil. 4:4-7).

Finally, the call to conversion addressed to the crowd, the tax collectors, and the soldiers by John the Baptist teaches us that joy is the result of a continuing effort of doing good (Luke 3:10-18). We experience deep joy when we share with others. When we act justly and do not cheat others. When we respect the dignity of all and do not oppress anyone. We experience joy when we are content with the little we have.

We experience joy when we keep our hope alive even in seemingly hopeless situation. For with God, there is no hopeless situation. Yes, our God is able and faithful. Let us therefore rejoice no matter what situation we may find ourselves.
Amen

33RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Daniel 12:1-3
Ps 15:5.8-11
Hebrews 10:11-14.18
Mark 13:24-32

THE END OF TIME

Today is the last Sunday before the solemnity of Christ the King, which marks the end of the liturgical year. And today’s readings speak about the final consummation or end of time. That time will be marked by dramatic cosmic changes, the gathering of the nations for judgment and the manifestation of the glory and power of the Son of Man, our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first and gospel readings tell us that it will be a time of great distress. But the people of God, those who have remained faithful to the end, will be spared. The angels will gather the chosen ones, those whose names are written in the Book of Life, so that they may inherit eternal life and shine as bright as stars. However, the unrighteous, the unfaithful ones will go to shame and everlasting disgrace or eternal damnation.

Contrary to the many so-called prophets who claim to know or to have received a vision of the end of time, Jesus tells us: “But as for the day or hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son; no one but the Father.” Therefore, we should not allow ourselves to be fooled or deceived by anyone who claims to have a dream or a vision about the end of time as many are doing especially on social media.

What is of great importance is that we stay awake and stand firm in the Lord. Jesus has achieved eternal salvation for us through his self-offering on the cross, as the second reading reminds us. Therefore, we should not worry about what will happen in the future. Let each day be an opportunity for us to change, love and serve. Let us keep on doing what is good. Let us keep on walking with the Lord. He will preserve us from any shame. May he grant us the grace to stand ready and keep us safe for eternal life. Amen.

32ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

1Kings 17:10-6
Psalm 145:7-10
Hebrews 9:24-28
Mark 12:38-44

A DARING GENEROSITY

Do not be afraid to give, for generosity pays. This is the main message of today’s readings. The first reading recounts the daring act of generosity of the widow of Zarephath. She used the last provisions she had to feed the prophet Elijah at the time of the drought. And her jar of meal was not spent nor the jug of oil emptied, in accordance with the word of the prophet (1Kgs 17:10-6). Thus, those who trust God are never disappointed.

According to the second reading, Jesus made a total offering of himself to God out of love for us as a sacrifice of expiation, taking on himself the faults of many (Heb. 9:24-28). In the gospel, after teaching, Jesus sat opposite the treasury and was observing the people contributing into the treasury. Then came a widow who put in all that she had to live on, two small coins. The inner attitude that accompanied her offerring was so great that Jesus commended her to his disciples (Mark 12:38-44).

What is common to the two widows of today’s readings is their discretion and daring generosity. They took a risk which translates their trust in God's providence. They were poor in material possessions, but rich in generosity. What we can learn from these two widows is that none of us is too poor that he has nothing to give; and that none of our “little offerring” is insignificant before God. Every act of generosity will not go unrewarded.

What matters is not so much what we give but how we give. If we wait to have much before giving, we will never give, for we will never have much. Though it is a terrifying and painful experience to give out of the little, it is in this risky act of giving out of the little that we experience God’s closeness to us. Let us learn to share the little we have with others and give generously.
May God bless you!

31ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Deuteronomy 6:2-6
Psalm 17
Hebrews 7:23-28
Mark 12:28-34

                      SHEMA ISRAEL

The readings of today invite us to love. But what kind of love? It is not the love as the world understands it, whereby we learn how to make love and take advantage of the other for our own interest, but the love of God, whereby we seek the good of the other for the sake of the other. It is agape love. For love is the fundamental vocation of man: to love and to be loved. Man cannot live without love. Love is not therefore a word or an idea, but a way of life.

In the first reading, the “shema Israel”: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is One” is the profession of Jewish faith and at the same time, a call to obedience. The consequence of this obedience of faith is to love God with a total and unconditional love (Deut. 6:2-6).

However, according to St John, he who says he loves God but hates his brother is a liar (1 John 4:20). Thus, the love of God and the love of the neighbor are like the two sides of a coin. And this is the message of the gospel reading. Replying to the scribe’s question about which is the first of all the commandments, Jesus says it is love: love of God and love of the neighbor (Mark 12:28-34).

Indeed, love surpasses everything and it conquers everything. Yes, love is the foundation and the fulfillment of the Law. This free, total and unconditional love finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. In obedience to his Father and for love of mankind, he offered himself on the cross once for all as a perfect and pleasing sacrifice to God. Thus, he has become the High Priest par excellence; and his priesthood lasts forever (Heb. 7:23-28). May he teach us to love and serve him in our brothers and sisters.
Amen.