Readings (Year C):
Zephaniah 3:14 – 18a
Isaiah 12:2 – 3, 4, 5 – 6
Philippians 4:4 – 7
Luke 3:10 – 18
Reflection: The justice of God is the joy of the poor
Growing up in a household where almost all my wants and needs were met as a little boy often brought me joy. But at the end of each year, I had to learn to share virtually everything that I cherished: my toys, clothes, favorite books, and more. My parents forced me to give away almost everything and asked me to be happy. Since they would be able to buy me new stuff in the upcoming year, they used to tell me, “Patrick, sharing what you have with those who cannot have them should make you happy, not sad.”
As a little boy, as well as I can remember, the early stage of this dynamic in the house would be very challenging for me. It used to be very hard for me to let go. I could not understand my parents’ philosophy of giving as a way of joy. As I grew older, I realized that they were right. When I share with others, it makes me happier. Today, giving is one of my first love languages.
On this Gaudete Sunday, this gospel invites us to reflect on something unique as the foundation of the source of our Joy: Sharing what we have as a source of God’s justice for the poor. Today, the third Sunday of Advent, let us remind ourselves that the true sense of joy is sharing what we can with those in need.
In the gospel, the crowd asks the prophet John the Baptist, “What should we do?” the prophet responds by inviting them to stop amassing unnecessary stuff as they wait for Jesus’ coming: Stop collecting more than what is prescribed. Be open and let us share what we have.
We are invited to make this advent the most pedagogical spiritual season of our lives, where we can learn how to wait and meet Christ in others. In his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium
(The Joy of the Gospel), Pope Francis says, “Whenever we encounter another person in love [by giving], we learn something new about God.” We become closer to God, and therefore, we are happier.
This Sunday, John the Baptist reminds us that the coming of our Lord requires a certain emptiness on our part. We must let go of our attachments, get closer to Christ, and empty ourselves of everything holding us back.
As a kid, I found it a challenge to understand the meaning of giving away all my belongings to others—yet I needed to do it as a way of joy. Sometimes, in our faith, we can still be like children. We might not immediately understand the spiritual reason behind what God is asking of us, yet if we pray, if we have faith, hope, and love, we can empty ourselves and discover that joy.
This sense of joy that the gospel invites us today is not a “feeling good” joy. It’s not like a drink that makes us happy. It requires work to learn to detach ourselves from whatever is holding us back from meeting our Lord. Advent is about waiting, sharing, and joy. Let us share what we have as we wait for the one who is coming. While we wait, let us make this time the most joyful experience of our faith by detaching ourselves from what holds us back from being fully joyful.
The church invites us to pray and reflect on what gives us joy other than pouring ourselves out for the poor. I may want to pray with the following questions: What is holding me back in this season? How can I happily empty myself to receive the Lord? How would I feel if I found that my reluctance to share what I have would impact the coming of our Christ in the life of someone in need?
May this season of waiting and giving be our greatest joy of emptying ourselves to receive Jesus.
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