Living Kindness and Love - Reflection Third Sunday of Advent Year C

Praise be Jesus Christ, fore ever and ever

Today is Gaudete Sunday. The 3^rd Sunday of Advent and we light the rose candle. The rose-colored candle represents Joy.

Our reading today are all about Joy. The Prophet Zephaniah speaks God’s word: “Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!  Sing joyfully, O Israel!  Be glad and exult with all your heart….”

Paul writes to the Philippians “Brothers and sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again:  rejoice!”  Then he continues, “Your kindness should be known to all.”

Paul told them to know true joy “rejoice in the Lord.” Rejoice and “your kindness will be known to others.”

The world in the time of Paul and the world today does not lend itself to people being kind to one another.  Yet, the LORD God sent his prophets with a message of kindness and joy.

When the crowds, tax collectors, and soldiers asked John the Baptist what should we do, he answered them simply to be kind to others - "Share with the person who has none. Do not cheat others out of what is rightfully theirs. Do not falsely accuse and be happy with what you receive."

Because of the simple instruction of John the Baptist, people were joyful. It was his simple instructions on how to be kind to others that brought hope John the Baptist was the messiah.   "All were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ."

John says something better is coming  "I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals."

To paraphrase John in a simplier way, Hold on people, if my words bring you joy and hope wait for the one coming after me. The joy I bring is nothing compared to His. His work is of the Spirit of God. 

John was telling them the truth of the Psalmist words, “Cry out with joy and gladness for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.”

This Sunday, Gaudete Sunday cry out with joy and gladness. The Lord is near.

“What should we do?”

Let us learn from this example.  A couple of weeks ago during the children’s liturgy, the teacher asked each child what they wanted others to see in them. Each child gave a beautiful answer.

One little boy, the loudest, most restless, and the one surely everyone knows rom this description, had a very good answer. This child who finds his joy running between the pews and up/down the aisles looked at the teacher and answered, “I want them to see Jesus.”

He is three years old.

All of us older than that three year old should want that same thing. If others see Jesus in us and we see Jesus in others, the world will know joy and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding.

By the fact that we are  baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, our presence in this world is the presence of Christ to many. Just as he asked the prophets, God asks each of us to bring  the world kindness and joy.  

We are baptized to do this. Christ is near us. He is in us. By the power of the Holy Spirit, others will see Chist in us and we will see Christ in others. God is always near and realizing this is true joy. Living out kindness and love brings joy.

Be good, be holy and preach the gospel by your life bringing kindness and joy to others. Praise be Jesus Christ fore ever and ever. Amen.