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The Joy That Comes From a Humble Heart




The Joy That Comes From a Humble Heart
Lk 3: 10 – 18
Third Sunday of Advent

Introduction
Today is the third Sunday of Advent. In today’s reading, we hear again John the Baptist preaching and preparing people for the coming of the Lord.

The Gospel
John’s preaching about the coming of the Lord has created such an impact on people who heard him that it moved many of them to turn away from their old ways.  And so in the gospel today, we hear people asking John: “What should we do?”  In reply, John tells them: “ Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.”
The gospel then says that even tax collectors came up to be baptized. They too asked John: “ Teacher, what should we do?” John answers: “ Stop collecting more than what is prescribed. Soldiers too came and asked what they should do. John advises them: “ Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages. “
The witnessing of John simply inspired many people as they were filled with the expectation about the coming of the Lord. They even wondered if John could be the Christ. John, however, simply brushed these speculations aside 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.”  The gospel then ends saying that John continued to exhort people in many other ways, as he preached the good news to the people.

Reflection
The third Sunday of Advent ushers us nearer to the birth of our Lord. This nearness to Christmas creates an atmosphere of joyful expectation as we await the Lord’s birth.
Such expectation for the Lord’s coming can also be felt in our reading today. John the Baptist has succeeded in inspiring people to prepare the way of the Lord. People then began to seek his advice, and wanted to know how they could best prepare for the Lord’s coming.
John thus advises people: those who had two cloaks or had food were to share these to others who had none. Sharing not only fosters concern and caring for others. More importantly, sharing helps liberate the heart from any excessive and inordinate attachment to material goods.
John said something similar to tax collectors. His exhortation to them not to collect more than what was required meant the curtailment of the heart’s craving for what it does not truly own. Lastly, John’s advise to the soldiers was for them not to extort, not to accuse falsely and to be contented with their wages.  
Summing it all up, John’s advice was all about a change of heart, a change of mind and a change in one’s ways. There is a Greek word for this kind of change; it is called metanoia. Metanoia literally means a change of mind. The changing of one's mind influences our desires and eventually how we act and behave. Metanoia then means a person's total conversion and return to what is good.
John the Baptist is telling people that the best way to prepare for the Lord's way was through metanoia - which is the changing of one's ways to return to what is good.
The second part of the gospel deals with the people's gut feeling about John the Baptist himself. The gospel tells us that people began to entertain the thought and the possibility that John could be the Messiah or the Christ who is to come. To this, John tells them: “…one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.”
John's reply reveals much about himself and his humble estimation about himself despite his popularity and fame. This tells us about the humility of John the Baptist and his high regard for Jesus who is the Lord about to come. John’s humility summarizes the attitude we should have when the Lord comes; that the best way to prepare for the Lord's coming is to humble oneself before him who is coming.
Humility is a such a peculiar virtue. Humility strips us of our ego and all the trappings that go with it. But while humility strips us of a lot of things that we are attached to, it also prepares us for the experience of true joy. A humble man like John the Baptist would have experienced true joy himself as he awaited and prepared people for the coming of the Lord who is the one true giver of joy in our life.
As Christmas draws near, and as our excitement builds up as we await the birth of our savior, our hearts are simply filled with joy awaiting the coming of one who humbled himself and stripped himself of his divinity so that he can truly become like one of us. Jesus shows us that peace and joy are possible for anyone who like John the Baptist, awaits for his coming with a humble heart.

Prayer
Dear Lord, it is now almost Christmas. In a few days, we shall celebrate what is to us the happiest day of the year. Your birth gives us so much joy. But we fail to see that this joy became possible only because you humbled yourself by being born like us.
Today, the voice of John calls us to change our ways and to humble ourselves before you. Give me a changed heart and mind that I may know the joy that comes from a humble heart.  Amen.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. “ – Lk 2: 10 – 11

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