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Contemplating today's Gospel

Today's Gospel + homily (in 300 words)

Sunday 3rd (B) of Advent
View 1st Reading and Psalm
1st Reading (Isa 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 the 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 robe of salvation and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, 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.
Responsorial Psalm: Lk 1
R/. My soul rejoices in my God.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed.

The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.

He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy.
2nd Reading (1Thess 5:16-24): 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.
Versicle before the Gospel (Isa 61:1): Alleluia. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. Alleluia.
Gospel text (Jn 1,6-8.19-28): A man came, sent by God; his name was John. He came to bear witness, as a witness to introduce the Light so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light but a witness to introduce the Light. This was the testimony of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites to ask him, «Who are you?». John recognized the truth and did not deny it. He said, «I am not the Messiah». And they asked him, «Then who are you? Elijah?». He answered, «I am not». They said, «Are you the Prophet?». And he answered, «No». Then they said to him, «Tell us who you are, so that we can give some answer to those who sent us. How do you see yourself?». And John said, quoting the prophet Isaiah, «I am the voice crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord».

Those who had been sent were Pharisees; so they put a further question to John: «Then why are you baptizing if you are not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?». John answered, «I baptize you with water, but among you stands one whom you do not know; although he comes after me, I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal». This happened in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

«Among you stands one whom you do not know; although he comes after me»

Fr. Joaquim MESEGUER García (Rubí, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, right in the midst of Advent, we receive an invitation to joy and hope: «Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks» (1Thess 5:16-18). The Lord is near: «My daughter, know your heart is Heaven for Me», Jesus said to St. Faustina Kowalska (and, certainly, the Lord would like to extend it to each one of his children). It is a good time to think of everything He has done for us and thank Him for it.

Joy is an essential characteristic of the life of Faith. To feel loved and saved by God is a great elation; to feel conscious we are brothers of Jesus Christ, who gave his life for us, is the basic motivation of our Christian joy. A Christian who surrenders to grief and sadness will have nothing but a bleak and desolated spiritual life, he will not be able to see what God has done for him and, therefore, he will not be able to transmit it to others. Christian happiness stems from thanksgiving, basically because of the Love our Lord radiates over us; every Sunday, through the Eucharist, we do so in communion with Christ.

The Gospel has introduced us to the figure of John the Baptist, the precursor. John enjoyed great popularity amid plain people; but, when they ask him, he humbly answers: «I am not the Messiah…» (cf. Jn 1:21); «I baptize you with water, but among you stands one whom you do not know; although he comes after me» (Jn 1:26-27). Jesus Christ is the long-awaited Messiah; He is the Light of the world. The Gospel is not a strange message, nor another doctrine, but The Word that bestows meaning upon our human life, for it has been communicated by the eternal God incarnated as a man. All Christians are called to acknowledge Jesus Christ and bear witness of his Faith. As Christ's disciples, we are called to contribute with the gift of Light. Beyond the scope of these words, the best testimony, is and will always be the example of a faithful life.

November 30th
Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle

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