{"id":5454,"date":"2020-12-13T12:02:29","date_gmt":"2020-12-13T17:02:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/?p=5454"},"modified":"2020-12-13T12:02:29","modified_gmt":"2020-12-13T17:02:29","slug":"3rd-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-b-homily-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/3rd-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-b-homily-3\/","title":{"rendered":"3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

3rd<\/sup> Sunday of Advent, Year B<\/a>
Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11
Responsorial \u2013 Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54 (Isaiah 61:10b)
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28
December 13, 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The time for the long-awaited messiah is near.  To prepare the way of the Lord, \u201cJohn was sent from God.<\/em>\u201d  John came to give testimony, \u201cto testify to the light<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His testimony is to help the people know Jesus.  John\u2019s mission is not about himself for \u201che was not the light<\/em>.\u201d  John only spoke the truth, freely admitting, \u201cI am not the Christ<\/em>.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He does identify himself (from Isaiah) as \u201cthe voice crying out in the desert.  \u2018Make straight the way of the Lord.<\/em>\u201d  He also freely admits that he is not even worthy to untie the sandals of Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thinking of our own worthiness, we come today continuing our season of Advent.  Advent is a special time to prepare ourselves for the Second Coming.  This is a penitential time, a time to reflect on our sins.  The liturgical color for Advent is violent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thinking about our sins may make us feel down.  Upon returning to Jerusalem after the Babylonian Exile, the Israelites were feeling down because they found the Temple and Jerusalem in ruins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is in the midst of that, with \u201cthe spirit of the Lord GOD<\/em>\u201d was upon him that Isaiah was sent to \u201cbring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners.<\/em>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the midst of their sorrow, Isaiah gave the Israelites reason to rejoice.  Isaiah himself rejoiced heartily in the Lord knowing, \u201cin my God is the joy of my soul<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We might struggle in sorrow and suffering but we can rejoice!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the midst of this penitential season of Advent, today is Gaudete Sunday.  I said before that the liturgical color for Advent is violent.  However, obviously I am wearing rose.  Rose is the color for Gaudete Sunday.  It is a color of warmth.  It is a color of rejoicing! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gaudete means to rejoice.  We find the word \u201crejoice\u201d in both our first and second reading today as well as in our responsorial. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we rejoice in a penitential time?  Our sins are bad but we rejoice because Jesus came and died for our sins to make eternal life in Heaven possible for us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we rejoice when we experience difficulties in our lives?  Look at Mary.  Our responsorial today (normally from a psalm) comes from Luke\u2019s Gospel.  Mary is pregnant.  She could fear how she will be treated for getting pregnant before getting married.  She doesn\u2019t.  She knows this is by the power of God.  She trusts God.  She knows God is with her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mary cries out, \u201cMy soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.<\/em>\u201d  She knows God is with her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Mary\u2019s trust, she gives testimony to what God does for her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do we give testimony to who God is?  Do we give good <\/em><\/strong>testimony to who God is?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our response to what we experience in this world gives testimony to God.  If our response shows faith in God, we give \u201cgood\u201d testimony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It isn\u2019t always easy.  We struggle.  We get discouraged.  At least I know I do.  I ask for God\u2019s help to help me see past the discouraging things so that I can live in hope of what is to come.  This leads to rejoicing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul calls us to \u201cRejoice always.  Pray without ceasing.  In all circumstances give thanks.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God is always with us, even when things seem difficult.  When we can see past the sufferings, we can see the ways God has blessed us and we can be thankful.  We can rejoice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can change the way we look at things.  It changes our perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, in this time of the Coronavirus, we can lament having to wear face masks and social distancing.  I don\u2019t like either.  However, I see a positive in them.  At times I feel powerless to do anything about the virus.  However, I see face masks and social distancing as something I can do to make the situation \u201cbetter.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You see my concern in the Coronavirus is not getting it myself.  My concern is in giving it to someone else.  I look forward to the day when we don\u2019t have to wear face masks and social distance.  For now, I\u2019m glad that there is something I can do to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us ask the Lord to trust in hope so that we may live with gratitude even in the midst of suffering.  In doing so, we can rejoice!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

3rd Sunday of Advent, Year BIsaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11Responsorial \u2013 Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54 (Isaiah 61:10b)1 Thessalonians 5:16-24John 1:6-8, 19-28December 13, 2020 The time for the long-awaited messiah is near.  To prepare the way of the Lord, \u201cJohn was sent from God.\u201d  John came to give testimony, \u201cto testify to the light.\u201d His testimony is to …<\/p>\n

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