Reflection for the Vigil of the Third Sunday of Advent 2009
December 12, 2009

by Rose Marie Stallbaumer, OSB

Some thirty years ago I participated in a 3rd world experience in Cuernavaca, Mexico. During the two weeks the participants visited the homes of a number of local people, listening to their personal stories and struggles. Throughout the years the image of Angela has remained with me. Angela was an elderly grandmother who welcomed us into her home with open arms. Her home was simple: a dirt floor, a roof made of tree branches and pieces of tin. Angela told us how she worked to provide for her children and grandchildren with the hope that their lives would be easier than hers; and she spoke of her work with the local government to improve the living conditions for all in the settlement. As Angela shared her story, there was a strong sense of peace and joy about her. Hers was a joyful spirit that I could not quite comprehend given the poverty and hardships of her life.

We hear much about joy on this Third Sunday of Advent. We just sang “The heart that hears good news will be full of joy.” The readings for this Sunday from Zephaniah and Philippians tell us to rejoice. From Zephaniah we hear “Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel.” St Paul, in Philippians, tells us, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again, rejoice.” Both writers know that God is not only near, he is already in their midst.

Perhaps this is the joy that I witnessed in Angela. She, too, was aware of God’s presence in her life. Angela spent herself in bringing joy and hope to others. In doing so, this joy became her own.

We have just heard the Gospel message from John the Baptist. At first glance it doesn’t seem to fit with the theme of this Sunday. Rather than shouting for joy, John seems to be reprimanding the people for their greed. “If you have two cloaks,” John says, “give one to the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.”

But John is not reprimanding; rather he is responding to the questions of the crowd, “What should we do?” The people have been listening to John preach “prepare a way for the Lord, clear a straight path for our God.” And so they are asking “But how? How shall we prepare the way for the Lord?” Theirs is an expectant joy welling up within, and John’s response holds the key to their joy.

John gives the crowd some practical ways to level the mountains and fill in the valleys. He tells them that the way to true joy is not by hoarding and gaining more wealth or power. Rather, they will find joy in the building up of a just society where all have what is needed. As Megan McKenna suggest in her writings, John is telling the crowds “to live in such a way that you give others cause for rejoicing!” This is the connection between John’s message and Gaudete Sunday. For when we truly live in such a way that we give others cause for rejoicing, we too will find joy.

John’s words also hold the key for us. Suppose John the Baptist were alive today; what would he say to us? Perhaps John would tell us we need an extreme makeover. John would challenge us to see that the poor are fed and the homeless sheltered. He would challenge us to cancel the third world debt, to welcome the immigrant, to provide health care for all people, to put an end to wars and violence. John would challenge us to understand that God’s presence in the world depends on us.

As you and I approach John the Baptist in our lectio perhaps he will reverse the roles and ask the question of us. “And you, what will you do?” What will you do to give your sisters, your neighbors, your co-workers cause for rejoicing? For myself, I suspect John would challenge me to be more generous and gracious in saying yes to the many requests for help during these busy days and to spend more time with my sisters in Dooley. And perhaps, too, John would ask me to think of the sister I have the most difficulty loving and challenge me to find a way to give her cause for joy.

And you, what is it that John will challenge you to do? What will you do that will give others cause for rejoicing? And just perhaps it will give you cause to rejoice as well.

© 2009 Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica
Atchison, Kansas