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Illustration:An Advent wreath with the customary single rose-coloured candle for Gaudete Sunday
Pope Francis’ Homily for 3rd Sunday of Advent (Guadete Simday)
“Place d’Austerlitz” (“U Casone”) – Ajaccio
Sunday, 15 December 2024
Luke 3:10-18
When all the people asked John, ‘What must we do?’ he answered, ‘If anyone has two tunics he must share with the man who has none, and the one with something to eat must do the same.’ There were tax collectors too who came for baptism, and these said to him, ‘Master, what must we do?’ He said to them, ‘Exact no more than your rate.’ Some soldiers asked him in their turn, ‘What about us? What must we do?’ He said to them, ‘No intimidation! No extortion! Be content with your pay!’
A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people, who were beginning to think that John might be the Christ, so John declared before them all, ‘I baptize you with water, but someone is coming, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to undo the strap 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 in a fire that will never go out.’ As well as this, there were many other things he said to exhort the people and to announce the Good News to them.
Pope Francis’ Homily:
The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What “What do you want us to do?” (Lk 3:10). What should we do?
We should listen carefully to this question, because it expresses a desire for spiritual renewal and a better life.
John announced the coming of the long-awaited Messiah, and those who listen to his preaching want to be prepared for this encounter: the encounter with the Messiah, the encounter with Jesus.
The Gospel of Luke tells us that those who express the desire for conversion are the “outsiders”.
It is not those who are generally considered to be the closest, the Pharisees and doctors of the law, but those who are farthest away, the tax collectors, who are considered sinners, and the soldiers who ask, “Teacher, what should we do?” (Lk 3:12).
This is a beautiful question that perhaps each of us could take to pray before going to bed tonight: “Lord, what should I do to prepare my heart for Christmas?”.
Those who think they are righteous are not renewed.
Those who are considered public sinners, on the other hand, long to leave behind their former lives of dishonesty and violence, and to embark upon a new life.
Those who are distant become close whenever Christ approaches. John responds to those tax collectors and soldiers by urging them to be fair, upright and honest (Lk 3:13-14).
The proclamation of the Lord’s coming stirs consciences.
It appeals especially to the poor and the outcast, because he comes not to condemn but to save those who are lost (cf. Lk 15:4-32).
The best way to open our hearts, to the salvation that Jesus brings, is to be honest: “Lord, I am a sinner”.
All of us here today are sinners. All of us. “Lord, I am a sinner”. And so, we approach Jesus in truth, not with the glamour of a false righteousness. In fact, Jesus comes precisely to save sinners.
That is why today we too can ask the same question that the crowds asked John the Baptist.
In this season of Advent, let us find the courage to ask without fear, “What then shall I do?”,
“What then shall we do?” in order to prepare a humble heart, a trusting heart for the Lord’s coming.
The Scriptures we have heard present us with two different ways of waiting for the Messiah: we can wait either with suspicion or with joyful expectation.
We can await salvation with these two attitudes: either with suspicion or with joyful expectation.
Let us reflect on these spiritual attitudes.
The first attitude, that of suspicion, is full of mistrust and anxiety.
When we constantly think of ourselves and our own needs, we lose the spirit of joy.
Instead of looking to the future with hope, we view it with apprehension.
Caught up in worldly concerns, we are not open to the workings of God’s providence.
We do not know how to wait with the hope that the Holy Spirit brings us.
The words of Saint Paul can serve as an antidote to rouse us from our lethargy: “Do not worry about anything” (Phil 4:6). When anguish overwhelms us, it destroys us.
Pain, both physical pain and the hurt caused by family tragedies, is one thing, but anguish is quite another. As Christians, we must not be overwhelmed by anguish.
Stop being distressed, disappointed or sad.
How widespread these spiritual ills are nowadays, especially in places where consumerism reigns!
I have seen so many people in the streets of Rome these days that are out shopping, doing their shopping, overwhelmed by the anxiety of consumerism that then disappears and leaves you empty. Societies that live on consumerism grow old; they remain unsatisfied, because they no longer know how to give. If we live only for ourselves, we will never find happiness. If we live this way (like a closed fist) and not like this (an open hand) we will not be happy. I think that if we live with our hands like this (closed), instead of using our hands to give, to help and to share, we will never be happy.
This is an evil that all of us can fall into, all Christians, even priests, Bishops and Cardinals, all of us, even the Pope.
The Apostle suggests an effective remedy when he writes, “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil 4:6).
Faith in God gives hope! The Congress that has just taken place here in Ajaccio has underlined the importance of cultivating faith and appreciating the importance of popular piety.
Let us take as an example the recitation of the Rosary.
When we take up the Rosary and pray it well, it trains us to keep our hearts centered on Jesus Christ by sharing in the contemplative gaze of Mary.
We can also think of the traditional confraternities, which have much to teach us about generous service to our neighbors through works of spiritual and corporal mercy. These associations of the faithful, so rich in history, take an active part in the liturgy and in the prayer of the Church, enriching it with popular songs and devotions.
I encourage the members of the Confraternities to be ever more present, especially to those who are most in need, and in this way to practice their faith through acts of charity. Those confraternities which have a specific devotion are present to everyone, present to their neighbors in order to help them.
This brings us to the second attitude: joyful expectation. The first attitude was waiting with suspicion. For me this means waiting with your hands closed. The second attitude is joyful expectation.
It is not easy to be joyful. Christian joy is neither shallow nor ephemeral, like the joy that comes from going to the fair. No, it is not like that. On the contrary, it is a joy rooted in the heart and built on a solid foundation. In this sense, the prophet Zephaniah could tell his listeners to rejoice, for “the Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory” (Zeph 3:17).
Trust in the Lord who is in our midst, who dwells among us.
We so often forget that he is in our midst when we do a good deed, when we educate our children, when we care for the elderly.
But He is not among us when we gossip or speak ill of others.
The Lord is not there, only we are. The Lord’s coming brings us salvation: that is the reason for our joy. God is “mighty”, the Scriptures tell us. He can redeem our lives because he is able to do what he promises! Our joy is not a fleeting consolation that helps us forget the sorrows of life. No, it is not a fleeting comfort. Our joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, born of faith in Christ the Saviour, who knocks at the door of our hearts and frees us from sorrow and lethargy.
The presence of the Lord in our midst is a cause for celebration; it fills everyone’s future with hope. In the company of Jesus, we discover the true joy of life and become signs of the hope that our world so desperately seeks.
And the first of those signs of hope is peace.
He who comes is Emmanuel, God with us, who bestows peace on those who are favored by the Lord (cf. Lk 2:14). And as we prepare to welcome Jesus during this time of Advent, may our communities grow in their ability to accompany everyone, especially the young people preparing for Baptism and the other sacraments. And in a special way, the elderly as well. The elderly are the wisdom of a people.
Let us never forget that! And each of us can ask ourselves: how do I react to the elderly?
Do I try to care for them? Do I spend time with them? Do I listen to them?
“Oh no, their stories are so boring!”. Do I abandon them? How many children abandon their parents in retirement homes! I remember once how, in another diocese, I went to visit a nursing home.
And there was a lady there who had three or four children. I asked her: “And how are your children?” – “They are doing very well! I have many grandchildren” – “And do they come to see you?” – “Yes, they always come”. When I left the room, the nurse said: “They come once a year”. But the mother covered up her children’s shortcomings. So many people abandon the elderly. They wish them a Happy Christmas or Easter over the phone! Take care of the elderly; they are the wisdom of a people.
Let us think of the young people who are preparing for Baptism and the other sacraments.
In Corsica, thank God, there are many of them! And congratulations! I have never seen so many children as here! It is a gift from God! And I saw only two little dogs.
My dear brothers and sisters, have children! Have children!
They will be your joy, your comfort in the future.
I am telling the truth: I have never seen so many children. I have only seen so many in Timor-Leste, but nowhere else. That is your joy and your glory.
The Word of God never fails to encourage us. Despite the sufferings of nations and peoples, the Church proclaims an unshakable hope that does not disappoint, because the Lord has come and dwells in our midst. And in his coming our efforts to work for peace and justice find inexhaustible strength.
Sisters and brothers, in every time and in the midst of every suffering, Christ remains present; Christ is the source of our joy. He is with us in every tribulation to sustain us and to give us joy. Let us always cultivate this joy in our hearts, this certainty that Christ is with us, walking with us. Let us not forget that! And so, with that joy, with that assurance that Jesus is with us, we will be happy and we will make others happy. That must be our witness.
