Third Sunday of Advent “ O Sapientia!”
† Sunday 17th December 2000

Theme: The coming Lord is near!

A Reading from the Prophet Zephaniah 3 : 14 - 18
This text seems to take the form of a hymn of rejoicing, possibly marking deliverance from a siege or a great triumphant procession of thanksgiving for a victory gained. “Shout for joy, daughters of Zion, Israel, shout aloud!” The reason for the this joy is, “The Lord…has driven your enemies away. The Lord…is in your midst; you have no more evil to fear.” The Church in choosing this reading would have us understand, “The Lord God is in our midst…he will exult with joy over you, he will renew you with his love.”

A reading from the Letter of Paul to the Philippians 4 : 4 - 7
“The Lord is very near,” says Paul, “there is no need to worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving.” Remember, Paul is writing this from prison. Things hadn’t been going too well for him, but his only concern is for his readers, including we who hear this message today, “I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord.”

Gospel according to Luke 3 : 10 - 18
Note that here, as frequently in his gospel narrative, Luke refers to the outsiders, the Roman soldiers, the much hated tax gatherers and the poor. For it is they who respond to the call to repentance. In order to be ready to welcome Christ, we may need to be open, to finding goodness in people and places outside the more obvious and acceptable ways in life. It is to ‘the outsiders,’such as these that John the Baptist announces the Good News, and, “a feeling of expectancy grows among the people.”

© Peter Harrison 2000