Zephaniah 3:14-18
The First Reading exhorts Israel in its own day as well as pointing excitedly to God’s future fulfillment. Applied to ourselves, we rightly rejoice both over what we now have as well as over what God will continue to do. Advent is no time for indifference! God’s Savior and Holy One announced from of old is a certainty and soon will arrive. Resist foolhardy temptations of questioning whether God will keep His promise. Instead, prepare wholeheartedly for no less than the Living God who is coming very soon.
Luke 3:10-18
The Gospel Reading describes how John the Baptist is helping those people seeking a new life direction. John’s instruction beautifully anticipates Jesus’ crystal clear call to love. It has to do with sharing what we have when our neighbor lacks sufficient food and clothing. It involves exercising justice in the course of collecting taxes and other dues. It concerns respecting power and and using God’s gifts responsibly and generously – no theft, no extortion, and no selfish demands for more when what we have is sufficient. John boldly announces the coming Messiah of God! The Messiah will bring with Him the Holy Spirit, reveal our sins to us from God’s perspective and burn them away with the fire of His searing love.
