Homily Advent 3C: What should I do? How should I prepare for the Lord's coming?

Homily for 3rd Sunday of Advent Year C 2018-2019 

Zephaniah 3:14-18; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18

Introduction 

Ten days to Christmas!  For those like children on a trip asking "As we there yet?"  The answer is No.  We still have a whole lot of Advent remaining.  We are only on the third Sunday of Advent, a third highlight on our Advent journey. 

As we know Advent is a season of preparation for the two comings of Christ.  The first three weeks of Advent focus us on preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus on the Last Day, and only the fourth Sunday, being closest to Christmas as it is, focuses on preparing to celebrate the First Coming at Christmas. 

1. That is why the theme of the First Sunday was on vigilance, waiting for the Second Coming of the Lord "coming in a cloud with power and great glory." 
2. The Second Sunday, last Sunday, focuses on how we are to wait, with John the Baptist preaching repentance, preparing the way for the Lord, make straight his paths, by levelling every hill and mountain and filling in every valley. 
3. Today's gospel continues where we left off last Sunday, with his listeners asking John the Baptist some questions, to flesh out his message.  We can think of today's gospel as the Q&A session following the presentation he gave last Sunday, to give concrete application to his message. 

Scripture and Theology 

And so, after being moved by John's preaching about preparing the Way for the Lord, three groups of people raise their hands and ask him: “What should we do?”  And to each group he gives a specific answer, tailored to them. 

The first group are the crowds, who ask him: "What should we do?"  Can you give us a concrete example of how we should repent?  John tells them: "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise."  In other words, if they want to show that they are truly sorry for their sins, that they have left their old lives behind, they will treat others, even strangers, as brothers and sisters, sharing the basic needs of food and clothing with them. 

The second group were the tax collectors, who perhaps want a more specific example applicable to their particular occupation.  They too ask: “Teacher, what should we do?” Of course nobody likes tax-collectors, even some of us today, who only grudgingly file our taxes on April 15, hours before the deadline.  But the tax-collectors of that time were especially known to be corrupt, taking bribes, collecting more than was stipulated and keeping the difference for themselves.  That is why John challenges them to be just and fair, saying: "Stop collecting more than what is prescribed."  That will be your way of getting ready for Jesus. 

The third group were the soldiers.  Perhaps after hearing John give the tax-collectors some good practical advice for their occupation, they too asked: “And what is it that we should do?”  Again remember that the soldiers of the time had quite a different reputation from the honourable military tradition of this country.  In this country we honour our military men and women, because they truly sacrifice their lives for the nation.  But the soldiers of the time were often not very honourable men.  For starters they were seen as the military arm of the oppressive occupying Roman government.  And like some of the soldiers you read about in some countries today, they often used their military power with extortion and cruelty.  And so to the soldiers John says: "Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages."  For them, kindness and truth as the way to prepare for the coming of the Messiah. 

And so, to all three groups, the crowds, the tax-collectors and soldiers, John has given them something concrete to do or not do, as they prepare for the Messiah. 

Christian Life 

What about us?  We should also be asking John the Baptist: "What should we do?"  Last Sunday he told us to repent, using the image of preparing the Way for the Lord, and making straight his paths, levelling the hills and mountains, filling in the valleys.  What should we do concretely, practically? 

In my homily last Sunday I suggested that we can level the hills and mountains that stop the Lord from coming into our lives by eliminating the seven capital sins of pride, greed, gluttony, lust, envy, anger and sloth.  I also suggested that we can fill in the valleys of our lives with the seven corporal works of mercy, as well as the seven spiritual works of mercy.  This is our way of doing what John the Baptist tells the crowds to do, to share their food and clothing with the needy. 

But perhaps like the tax-collectors and soldiers we too want more specific advice for our particular states of life or our particular occupations and responsibilities. 

What should we ordained ministers, bishops, priests and deacons, do?  Particularly in the current climate of scandal, John would surely say to us "Remain committed to the vows and promises you undertook when you received the Sacrament of Holy Orders.  Be faithful to your threefold ministry of teaching, sanctifying and shepherding God's people." 

What should you married people, mothers and fathers do?  Particularly in our current climate of a breakdown in family and marriage, John might remind you about the commitments you made at your wedding: 

• To love and care for each other, in sickness and health, till death did you part – meaning that you would take the good and bad of your partner, you would be willing to forgive and forget, have patience with each. 
• You promised to welcome and care for children – meaning that you recommit yourselves to being not buddies, but parents and teachers, who give your children not only love, but are also willing to give tough love, that helps them to grow into God-fearing and responsible adults.  That is your way of preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus. 

What should young people do? John the Baptist would surely remind you that you are the future of the world, the future of the Church.  That means you begin to be that future already now, by not simply taking and receiving, but also learning responsibility already now; by not being snowflakes who only gripe and complain, but budding adults who step up to the plate of duty.  You cannot become responsible overnight on your eighteenth birthday; you start being that adult Catholic, that adult citizen already now, step by step.  Your baptism and your confirmation have empowered you with the graces for that responsibility. 

And then for each of us in our particular occupations John the Baptist would surely tell us to be faithful to our various callings, Catholic doctors and lawyers, Catholic politicians and civil servants, Catholic first responders and police officers, Catholic secretaries and administrative assistants, Catholic waiters and clerks, Catholic teachers and nurses.  That is our concrete way to prepare for the coming of the Messiah on the Last Day. 

Conclusion 

And so, when we live out Advent in this way, we are killing two birds with one stone.  We are preparing ourselves for Christmas, but we are also doing a dress rehearsal for the Second and Final Coming of Jesus, whenever that will be. 

May our waiting be a joyful one, as today's Gaudete Sunday tells us, the joy of knowing that we shall we be found ready when the Lord returns.  Should he call us to him before he comes, may we have the joy of a holy death.

Ten more days to Christmas.  Ten more days to keep asking John the Baptist, "What should I do?"  Ten more days to practice waiting, as we do what John tells us to do.