Third Sunday of Advent. Year C - Sunday, December 12, 2021 (EPISODE: 338)

Readings for Sunday, December 12, 2021 - Third Sunday of Advent. Year C
FIRST READING: Zephaniah 3:14-18a
Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6. "Cry Out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and holy one of Israel"
SECOND READING: Philippians 4:4-7
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 3:10-18). Alleluia, alleluia! The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he sent me to bring the Good news to the poor. Alleluia!
GOSPEL: Luke 3:10-18

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. ID: 35242588 - St Johann Baptist, medieval fresco, Kosovo, Serbia - By BrankaVV
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Third Sunday of Advent. Year C - Sunday, December 12, 2021, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/advent-3c-faith-hope-and-love-ep-338?si=0dc12a4158284208a369a38e28fbf70f&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing  (EPISODE: 338)
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*Prologue (Fr Paul Kelly)
There is something really reassuring and pleasant about today's gospel. In the readings, this weekend, the tone of Advent lightens particularly. There is a theme of gladness in the air. 

The readings speak of rejoicing. The approaching Birth of the Lord brings joy. Even the name for this Sunday is traditionally known as "Rejoice Sunday '' – In this time of Advent reflection, there is building excitement for the imminent celebration of the birth of our Lord. When we look at the readings, it is interesting to note that the REASON why we should rejoice and be glad is not that everything is going well, (although good fortune and success are indeed even more cause of joy and thanksgiving), but in the Scriptures, we rejoice and are glad BECAUSE "God is near."

No Matter what is happening: success or failure, sickness or health, freedom or oppression, God is always with us, and very near to us. Our God comes to us to sustain us and to save us, and to grant us forgiveness and hope. Also, God gives us, in answer to all our prayers PEACE.

St Paul refers to this, when he writes, "don't worry, but if anything is needed, ask for it and God will grant you his peace!" The first response God offers us, (no matter what our prayers and requests), is the gift of Peace, in all circumstances.

The mark of a civilized nation is sure to be found in how it cares for and protects its most vulnerable members. Let us continue to build a safer, and non-violent society that absolutely values life and protects all its members, especially the young and vulnerable.

Let us pray for people suffering the effects of hatred, violence, destruction, and war. May those who die from senseless acts of violence be taken to the place of peace and rest in the compassionate arms of Our Lord. Let us pray and work together, inspired by those prayers, that the world will find new and better ways to put an end to this violence and devastation and bring peace and safety to all peoples' lives. 

The world has been blessed by God's gift of inspiration and genius to so many people of goodwill and love who work constantly to create a better world and reach out to those in need. People who desire to fill in the valleys of prejudice and hatred, and level the mountains of ignorance, selfishness, and pride. Let us pray that these minds and hearts will prevail.

Saint John the Baptist is getting everyone prepared for the coming of the Messiah. He tells everyone, repent of their sins, change their ways, the Lord is near. And the people, of all different jobs and stations in life, ask the natural question: Okay if we are to change, what must we do?

This is a question we all ask, "Lord, show us what to do to make the changes you desire in our lives." John shows us the changes: Share food and material goods with those who have nothing. Act fairly, justly and honestly with others. Never act with intimidation or threat. Avoid disgruntlement, envy, dissatisfaction, jealousy and criticism, and negativity. (And so many wonderfully practical actions and attitudes that show the reverence we have to our God of justice and mercy, which flows through to how we treat each other.....) 

God our Father knows that we are not perfect and that only with His grace can we respond daily to His love. Every day our Father invites us again to trust in Him and to seek His help so that we can grow deeper in practical ways in faithfulness and love. I think of Mary, the Mother of God, (who does not feature in today's Gospel but who does feature in the readings over the coming week)….

The Gospels say in several places that Mary "treasured all these things in her heart." Mary treasured or pondered the things that were happening, even when some of the events that were occurring were not exactly happy things…

Mary treasured things in her heart that were confusing, and alarming, and disorienting, but she treasured everything because she utterly trusted in God's love and care. Mary constantly pondered the fact that God was near her and was faithful to her. Let us rejoice and take heart that the nearness of the Lord always, (particularly at this coming Christmas time), will sustain and strengthen us in good times and bad.

We are promised peace and God's nearness to us as we stay attentive to God's ways and active in justice and compassion. God's inner peace does not necessarily promise that all will go well in our environment and our world, but God's inner peace will sustain us and guide us in times of both tranquillity and outer turmoil. God's peace will be given to us in our constant combination of prayer and thanksgiving. 

God's grace will lift us up in times of joy and celebration, and also God's grace will sustain, help us through, and carry us in times of trouble

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Homily (Fr Peter Dillon)
Somewhere in the writings of George Eliot, there is a line. "It's but little good you'll do watering last year's crops." This essentially is the point being made by John the Baptist when he speaks to those seeking baptism in today's gospel.

John the Baptist is the one entrusted with the work of preparing the way of the Lord: to straighten out the rough paths. Reading between the lines today, we discover that one of the rough ways for many people is the past. Those people like all of us here, could look back over their shoulder and see some of the shameful or tragic things in their past, things that had hurt people: spouses betrayed, deaths in the family, dishonesty, embezzlement, fraud, lying, murder, drugs, addictions, and the endless catalogue. The past can be an enormously rough way when we turn and dwell on it, we cannot make progress because we are always looking backwards.

   Therefore, when these people with a past came to John, they asked him that question which is repeated several times in the gospel: What must we do? Notice John's answer. Not in any instance does he ask them to dwell on the past. John says: "Look, here you are, here and now, asking for baptism, renewal, something in the future to expect, a better life." He answers them not in the past, rather he answers them in the future. Tax collectors: 'From now on, I am not interested in what you have done in the past, but from now on, in the future, here's what to do. Don't extort more than you are supposed to collect. Soldiers, no matter how brutal your life has been, violence, pillage, rape. Now look to the future. Don't bully people anymore, don't misuse your power, don't hurt others.

  Often we water with freely flowing tears, sadness or bitter resentment, things of the irrevocable past. Moaning over what cannot be helped or undone is a confession of selfishness and cowardice. Break the cycle by learning to think of others (John's insight). We lighten our load by doing something for someone else. The simple act of doing an outward, unselfish act makes the past recede, and the present and the future come into clearer focus.

   Abraham Lincoln observed that 'most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be'. While we must admit that millions of innocent people in the world have misery thrust upon them, that really is not our situation in middle Australia. We can do a great deal to make our lives better, once we discover what real happiness is.

William Saroyan wrote "The greatest happiness you can have, is knowing that you do not necessarily require happiness." If we try to begin with happiness as our goal in life, we inevitably end up disappointed. A self-centred goal. Happiness is a byproduct, it comes as a result of doing good, turning outwards, finding happiness in the joy we can bring to others.

 The apostle Paul understood this. In today's second reading, he is writing to the Philippians: 'Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice...' Has he flipped? He is in prison, deprived of his liberty, living in squalid conditions, his future uncertain, yet he is truly happy. Why? - Because the Lord is near and that is reason enough for anyone to be happy. So be happy in the Lord. There is no need to worry. Anything you need, just pray for it. God will listen. These are the words of someone who knows God very intimately and understands that the only real happiness can come from accepting God's love.

  Again, look at Zephaniah in today's first reading: "Shout for joy...the Lord has repealed your sentence, he has driven your enemies away." Your enemies, the ghosts from your past which haunt you still are driven away, so rejoice. We call this Sunday, 'Gaudete Sunday', Latin for 'let us rejoice', because we share the conviction of John the Baptist, Paul and Zephaniah. As Christians, we have no excuse for wearing long faces. This is the season of great and joyful expectations. Christ will come and be "God with us," and free us from the bondage of our past lives.
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References:

prologue by Fr Paul W. Kelly

Homily by fr peter Dillon

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. ID: 35242588 - St Johann Baptist, medieval fresco, Kosovo, Serbia - By BrankaVV


Third Sunday of Advent. Year C (Sunday, December 12, 2021) (EPISODE: 338)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{Good wishes to you all.}}
In the Name of the Father (+) and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Lord be with you.

We continue on our Advent journey. We now light the third Advent candle. The "Shepherd's Candle" - reminding us of the Joy the world experienced at the birth of Christ.

(The Presider/helper lights the third candle)

O Lord and leader of Israel. Come and save us with your mighty power. Lord Have mercy.

O Stock of Jesse, Come to deliver us, without delay. Christ, Have mercy.

O Key of David and sceptre of Israel, Come to free those who sit in the valley and shadow of death. Lord, Have mercy.

*(no Gloria in Advent)*

COLLECT:
 Let us pray,
O God, who see how your people
faithfully await the feast of the Lord's Nativity,
enable us, we pray,
to attain the joys of so great a salvation
and to celebrate them always
with solemn worship and glad rejoicing.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit. God, forever and ever.

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Prayer after Communion

Let us pray, 
We implore your mercy, Lord,
that this divine sustenance may cleanse us of our faults
and prepare us for the coming feasts.
Through Christ our Lord.

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DISMISSAL:
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
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Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6. "Cry Out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and holy one of Israel"

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 3:10-18). Alleluia, alleluia! The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he sent me to bring the Good news to the poor. Alleluia!

Memorial Acclamation
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
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PREFACE: Advent II
EP III
Communion side. pwk: LH
(theme variation: v2 )
(pre+post variation: v1-lshort)
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{May God's grace strengthen your love and hope and faith, and may God's love surprise you even in the trials and challenges of the week.}

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

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Archive of homilies and reflections: homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead: soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks 

You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection " - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

"O Come. Lord. (Advent) " - In Memory of Paolo Mario (Paul) Giacomantonio (1968-2020).
By Paul W. Kelly. Based on the Ancient church "O Antiphons " of Advent.
Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics, By Stefan Kelk, 2020.

[ Production - KER - 2021]

May God bless and keep you.

{extra text : unspoken for Advent -

Roman Missal, 3rd edition, 2010, (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA.

"The Psalms " by The Grail - 1963, 2009.

Prayers of the Faithful - Robert Borg "Together we pray " - (1993) }

Sound Engineering and editing - P.W. Kelly.

Microphones: - SHURE MOTIV MV5

Editing equipment: NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software
NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44

Sound Processing: iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor

[ Production - KER - 2021]

May God bless and keep you.
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