Third Sunday of Advent Dominica Tertia Adventus

First Reading, Isaiah 61:1-2A, 10-11 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God.

I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul; for He has clothed me with a of salvation and wrapped me in a of justice, like a bridegroom adorned with a , like a bride bedecked with her jewels. As the earth brings forth its plants, and a garden makes its growth spring up, so will the Lord God make justice and praise spring up before all the nations.

Commentary The prophet Isaiah here is speaking of himself and his mission of consolation in which he foretells a future glory for Zion; therefore, prophetically his words point to Christ, thus making Isaiah a figure of the Messiah. Jesus is the fulfillment of these words and proclaims them in Saint Luke’s Gospel when He reads the prophet’s words in a synagogue (cf. Luke 4:16-21).

“A year of favor” refers to the Jubilee year in which slaves were set free. “A day of vindication” is the judgment that will come on those who oppressed God’s people; and so, the freedom of slaves and the judgment of oppressors represent Christ’s work of redemption.

Isaiah expresses his joy over the prospect of salvation as if it has already been attained. As a figure of Christ, Isaiah represents the community as wearing “a robe of salvation and wrapped in a mantle of justice” which is compared to the diadem of a bridegroom and the jewels of a bride. The joy of salvation, then, is being compared to the joy of the wedding day. God is faithful, therefore, salvation will come as surely “as the earth brings forth plants and a garden makes its growth spring up.”

Second Reading, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 Brothers and sisters: Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of evil.

May the God of peace make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One Who calls you is faithful, and He will also accomplish it.

Commentary It’s difficult to believe that Saint Paul would call for such a demanding Christian life: one of constant rejoicing, ceaseless prayer and refraining from evil unless Paul himself displayed these qualities. Maintaining the standard of a good Christian life is very difficult in the world in which we live but cheerfulness is a characteristic of true virtue. Authentic Christian joy is unshakeable and permanent. Certainly, we all experience sadness from time-to-time as it is a part of life; but Christians endure sadness, sorrow, and strife with Christian joy which means that in suffering trust is given to God’s care and promises.

To “quench the Spirit” is to oppose the interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are His graces. “Prophetic utterances” are the Holy Spirit’s exterior gifts. To “test everything” means to be prudent and cautious so as not to be deceived. We may seek an intimate union with God but we have an enemy seeking to separate us from God. Because of original sin we are not immune from deception. Human beings can deceive and be deceived, but the Spirit of God can neither deceive us nor be deceived.

Gospel, John 1:6-8, 19-28 A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but came to testify to the Light.

And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” He said: “I am ‘the voice of one crying out in the desert, make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is One among you Whom you do not recognize, the One Who is coming after me, Whose strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Commentary It might get a little confusing if we were all named “John” but aren’t each of us called to “testify to the Light?” This is evangelization and the call of every Christian. Saint John the Baptist is a perfect example of what our response should be to the greatness that God calls us to. John was quick to point out that “he was not the Light.” John would also say elsewhere that “He [Jesus] must increase but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

It would be very easy for us to let our egos soar because of the wonders that God does through us. Recognize, though, that this is the tempter saying: “Look at what you can do; you don’t need God.” Ah, but the reality is: we can’t do it without God. Jesus Himself assures of this when He said: “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

“The Jews from Jerusalem” were priests and Levites who most likely were sent and deputed by the Sanhedrin to ask John the Baptist, who was held in great esteem, if he was their Messiah. They knew by the predictions of the prophets that the Messiah was to come about that time. John declared to them he was not. To their next question, if he was Elijah? He answered, he was not because in person he was not, though our Savior (see Matthew 11:14) says he was Elijah, but in spirit and office only. Their third question was, if he was a prophet? He answered, no. Yet Jesus (see Matthew 11:9) tells us, John was a prophet, and more than a prophet.

In ordinary acceptation, prophets were called such because they foretold of things to come. John then, with truth and humility, could say he was not a prophet because he was not sent to foretell the coming of the Messiah; but instead to point him out as already here and present among the people of God.

When John the Baptist says, “There is One among you Whom you do not recognize,” he is not suggesting that Jesus was now standing amongst them, but these words may be understood in two different ways. Regarding His Divinity, Jesus was always by His Divine Presence among them; or regarding His Humanity, He lived among their countrymen. Once a year, however, Jesus was physically present among them because He was accustomed to go up to Jerusalem on the festival of the Passover. Imagine what must’ve been going through the minds of John’s hearers. Who would even be enthused at the thought of untying another man’s sandal strap? And yet, what would go through your mind if you were told you’re not even worthy enough to untie this mysterious Man’s sandal strap?

Jeffrey Allan [email protected]