First Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-18a

Psalm: Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6

Second Reading: Philippians 4:4-7

Gospel: Luke 3:10-18

The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?” He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?” He told the, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.” Now people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.

“Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.”

There is cause for rejoicing here! Today is Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete means “Rejoice!” Why are we rejoicing? Because the Lord is near. Christ is coming among us. We are preparing for His advent this season and will celebrate His coming among us at Christmas. Today, the Church gives us a taste of the great joy we will experience at the coming of our Savior.

“Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.”

Our first reading from the Book of the Prophet Zephaniah speaks of Jerusalem’s great joy because the Lord who had rebuked her has removed the judgment against her and turned away her enemies. Why? Because the King of Israel, the LORD is with her. She has no reason to fear any longer, and no reason to be discouraged. Why? Because the LORD her God is in her midst, who will rejoice over her and renew her in His love!

“Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.”

In our second reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, St. Paul exhorts us to rejoice, and he says it again – Rejoice! Why? Because the LORD is near. Have no anxiety. Make your prayers known to God, and God will give us the peace that surpasses all understanding that will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. “Rejoice in the LORD always. I shall say it again: rejoice!”

“Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.”

John the Baptist preached to the crowds that came to listen to him on the banks of the Jordan. He preached the coming of the LORD. John is the one sent to prepare the way for the LORD. The people are anxious. They ask John what they should do now that the LORD is coming. Reform your lives! Provide for those in need. Stop collecting more taxes than what is owed so you can pocket the difference. Stop extorting. Stop false accusations. Stop complaining about your wages. Reform your lives in expectation of the coming of the LORD.

The people were filled with expectation. They wondered if John was the Messiah. He assured them he was not. He was sent to prepare the way. One greater is coming. John is not worthy even to be His slave that loosens the thongs of His sandals.

John baptizes with water. The One to come will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. The Holy Spirit and fire both consume and transform whatever they touch. The baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire will consume and transform whoever is baptized. We become something new. Fire breaks down, but the Holy Spirit lifts up. We will be broken down and lifted up. We will be broken down in following Jesus because following Jesus means taking up our cross as He took up His. That is why He was born to this world, to die on His cross. We are born to new life to take up our cross and follow Him.

But the Holy Spirit lifts up. Just as Jesus was broken, suffered, and died, and was raised to glory, so we will be raised to glory if we are broken with Jesus, if we suffer with Jesus, if we die with Jesus – as he was raised to glory so we will be raised to glory. That is the promise of Jesus. And Jesus keeps His promises!

“Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.”

Exhorting them in many ways, John preached good news to the people. What was that good news? The great and Holy One of Israel is among us. The Savior is among us. Jesus is among us. The one we’ve waited for so long is finally here.

Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of our Lord, born in Bethlehem as a baby. Meek, mild, gentle, and poor. Yet it is also a time of preparation for when Jesus will come again, on the clouds, in power and might, with His angels, to gather His faithful to Him and take them to glory. We who remain faithful to Him, who take up our cross and follow Him, who unite our sufferings with His, who put our faith in His resurrection – we are the ones He will carry to glory. That is the promise of Jesus. And Jesus keeps His promises.

“Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.”

Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all.