Homily by Fr Mathew 3rd Sunday of Advent Year B

Gaudete Sunday

Is 61:1-2a, 10-11,       I Thess 5:16-24,     Jn 1:6-8, 19-28

When does life begin? A priest, a rabbi and an Episcopal minister discussed this  at a Rotary luncheon.

“We believe that life begins at conception, “said the priest.

I would argue that life begins at birth,” added the rabbi.

The Episcopalian said nothing until he was pressed by others. “Well,” he said “,for me life begins when the children go to college, my mother-in-law moves to Florida, and the dog dies.”

Like the Episcopal clergyman, we are always waiting to lo live. Some people think that they cannot start a real life and s joyful life until something happens. Do not wait to live. It starts now, this very moment.

This is Gaudete Sunday. It means we Christians should be joyful. Paul says Rejoice always in the Lord. God is good. God loves us. God sent Jesus into our world so that we could be his brothers and sisters, children of God. Jesus overcame our greatest worry - death - and we shall live forever.

This does not mean there will be no gloom in our life. Of course, there will be ups and down, sadness and sufferings in our life. However, deep down, at the deepest level, we feel a serenity and peace emanating from a power superior to us and holding us up. I heard somewhere, "Happiness is no laughing matter." That's true. Happiness isn't all laughter. It is a steady, down-deep sense of peace and joy.

So let us "Rejoice always" as Paul says in today’s second reading. However, this does not rule out some angry and gloom moments in our life. Can you come up with 10 angry moments that really upset your life? I came up with a list of ten and I want to share with you to know whether your list will be like mine.

  You know what I came up with? I call them “favourite angers." These are things that we know will make us angry.

1) The first one I have written down is "lousy drivers." You can get all worked up just driving across town. That gets us started. Let's hear what "favorite angers" you can come up with.

2) Taxes. We believe in paying taxes. However, some of us can get worked up about taxes and Government

3) Politics and politicians. Our politicians are like taxes.

4) The way people park and take up two spaces

5)  Gasoline prices. We get upset when the gas prices go up when someone sneezes in the middle east and during the holidays.

6) Football coaches (Especially if they coach the Lions

7) Children who are disrespectful. (We can all get talking about that ... youngsters who get away with things we would have gotten clobbered for.)

8) Rap music. (That's one I hadn't thought of, but you're right.)

9) Tele-marketers. (We could all get going on that one.)

10)  Rudeness. (You notice it in lots of places. People are rude to store clerks. Or, they talk very loud on their mobile phone right in the midst of other people.)

-- The media. (Everyone will chime in on that one.)

  These are some of the things that really make us angry. They are called angry moments. We are ten days away from Christmas. This is Gaudete Sunday.  Paul says, let us rejoice always.

You've heard of the list of the seven deadly sins. I think it was Saint Teresa of Avila who said gloom is the eighth deadly sin. It's a contradiction for a Christian to be gloomy.

  

What can we do about that? I have a suggestion. The very first line of today's Gospel set me thinking. The opening words are: "A man named John was sent from God."

  Do you know what? Those same words can be used of each of us. Try putting your name in there: "A man named _”Matthew”_ was sent from God." "A woman named __Jenifer___ was sent from God."

It's true. God knew us even before we were born. God created us in his image and likeness.  God acts through us to move creation gradually toward its destiny.I want to ask you to do one thing this week. Just sit down and write down some of the gifts you have.  

What I want you to do later today, or sometime this week, is to list the gifts you have. They may not  be very sensational.  They may seem very small, but God gave them to you. Others may not even notice some gifts, but God gave them to you.  "A man/woman named ______ was sent from God." 

Be specific, not vague about your gifts. And make sure you come up with more than two or three, because our God is a God of largesse. When we think about ourselves this way, and see ourselves placed in the world to use our gifts to help shape creation, then we have a sense of purpose, a deep down peace, happiness. It beats feeding on one another's "favorite angers." Instead of thinking about all the problems and evils in the world, we think about the gifts God gave us to help overcome the kinds of things that cause our "favourite angers."

    

So think about your gifts. And take Paul's words to heart: "Rejoice always. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you."