WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVE?

HOMILY FOR THE 3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT  YEAR C

THEME: WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

R1:Zephaniah 3:14-18

R/P:Isaiah 12

R2:Philippians 4:4-7

Gospel: Lk 3:10-18

The third Sunday of Advent is also called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is a Latin word that means “rejoice.” This name is taken from the entrance antiphon for today's Sunday Mass, which is also echoed in today's second reading from St Paul's letter to the Philippians. Some people mark this Sunday by lighting salvific candle instead of a purple one on their Advent wreath. It is a reminder that the Advent season is a season of joy because our salvation is already at hand.

There is an invitation for us to rejoice and savour the imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in the first reading of the day. A saviour was promised to Israel and the coming of this saviour is at hand. As we rejoice in anticipation of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are also invited to make ready our hearts to receive the Lord when He comes. In preparation for the parousia of the lorL, one has to have deep introspection into one's life with the question of the day. What must I do to be saved?

This question was reechoed in the gospel of the day. In the gospel, John the baptist teaches the path of repentance and announced Christ's imminent coming. He prepares the people of God and in proxy, he is preparing us to make smooth the rough paths of our lives so that the saviour might find a homely heart when He comes. The act of Christian preparedness is what this season of advent requires. The question " what shall I do to be saved" should sound in our minds as we prepare for the Lord's coming.

However, John the Baptist Challenged the crowds last week,to show evidence of their repentance. However, in today's gospel,the crowds ask John for specifics. What evidence of repentance is required? John replies by naming concrete actions: 

i. People should share their food and cloaks, ii. Just tax collections

iii. Soldiers should act fairly.

The concern for justice is the hallmark of Luke's Gospel.

When the crowd begins to wonder if John was the messiah, he was humble enough to interprete his baptism and makes it clear that his ministry was in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. Such humility is needed in our churches and in our world today. We must understand the roles we are called to play in our salvific mission and excute them well. It is the great mystery of our salvation that God permits and even ask for human cooperation in His divine plans.

Let us therefore, ask the good Lord to accord us the humility to cooperate with His divine plans in our lives. We continue to ask for a credible fidelity that propels us to examine our lives so as to level all mountains and exult all valleys of our lives and meet the saviour of the world in good standing.

As we do all this, may the good Lords bless His words in our hearts through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Reflection by

Rev. Fr. Peter Claver Eze, SMMM