III SUNDAY OF ADVENT
THE JOY OF THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST
By our Pastor, Fr. Carmelo Jiménez
Just like every year, the third Sunday of Advent is distinguished by the announcement of joy. A joy which does not come from passing things, but rather from the saving presence of God among his people.
The prophet Zephaniah announces to the people: “The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior, Who will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, Who will sing joyfully because of you.” (Zep 3:17) God walks with his people in their pilgrimage through history. His presence is salvific, a presence always in favor of his people. That is why true joy comes to men. It is the joy of help in an opportune time and the presence of a powerful someone who cares about what happens to us. God is present but he also wants to arouse in each person the search. He respects human dignity, respects our responsibility but he invites us with insistence to an encounter with him. Using a very human form the prophet affirms: “He will rejoice over you with gladness,” he loves you and he rejoices as at a festival. In waiting for the glorious return of the Lord, the Church should proclaim that the Lord continues to be in the midst of his people to care for them on their way.
Two years ago I was in Bowling Green, in the parish of St. Joseph, where now Deacon Jaime (who is blind) was also there doing his pastoral year. As the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe got closer he told me about his plans to celebrate on his parent’s farm. He is a fanatic of trains, so in his room there is a caboose and he also has a small train on their farm. That year Jaime prepared a big celebration in his house: December 13th, solemn vespers sung in honor of St. Lucy and Saturday, December 14th, a procession with the Virgen of Guadalupe in his train, while praying the Holy Rosary. When Jaime came back from his house, he was very happy because everything had gone well. His face was shining when he talked about what they had done, you could see his true joy. He proudly showed me a photo of his altar to Our Lady of Tepeyac, which was a simple but beautiful and meaningful altar. I asked curiously, because he had been talking about the procession as if it were very large, “How many were there with you?” He answered: my dog Bernadette, me and my train.
“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.” (Lk 3:16) John the Baptist never performed miracles; he limited himself to preaching, denouncing, exhorting and turning everyone’s eyes toward the weak as the essential condition of receiving the Messiah. These were unequivocal signs of the true Messiah. So the people deduced the possibility that John was the Messiah. But John, honored and truthful, clarifies the situation and brings the people out of their error: he is not the Messiah. However, another One will appear soon. This is the greatness of John that he is not the center. He knew how to cling to the mission he had been given. This is a lesson for our world today and human relationships in our society today.
The readings speak to us of a happiness and joy that never ends because it comes from above, from the interior peace that comes from knowing that we did things well. From the tranquility of knowing that the condemnation of sin has been abolished by the presence of God among us. The joy of knowing that the Messiah is coming to save us. The joy that Christ lives, and that you and I have done what he has asked. This is the joy that cannot be bought.
May the presence of Christ among us, fill us with joy. May doing the acts of mercy increase our joy. May this joy remain always in our hearts.