Third Sunday of Advent,
Cycle C
Celebrant: The Lord is in our
midst. With peace of mind, let us bring our needs to Him.
Deacon/Lector:
That the Kingdom of God ushered
into our world by the coming of Christ may turn away the destructive power of
terrorism and war, we pray to the Lord...
That elected leaders may have
wisdom, courage, and sincere concern for those they represent, we pray to the
Lord...
That couples may experience the
joy that comes with every new life, and in that joy find strength to overcome
the difficulties they may face, we pray to the Lord…
That those who are burdened by
anxiety may experience God's own peace, and the joy of His presence, we pray to
the Lord...
That they sick and dying may be
comforted by the love of God and the Christian community, we pray to the Lord...
Celebrant:
Father, you call your people to
rejoice at the coming of Your Son.
Make our joy complete as you
grant these petitions.
We ask this through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
Bulletin Insert
Click here for the
Spanish translation of this bulletin insert
When the year 1000 was about to
dawn, people fled to mountains, expecting the return of Christ. When 2000 came,
people feared major computer -- and hence societal -- breakdowns. Neither
happened. Yet both moments in history remind us of something deeper, the lesson
of Advent. Advent means "coming." The Lord wants us to anticipate and
prepare for His coming, not as something that we hinge on a particular date or
identify with a particular calamity, but as an ordinary aspect of our daily
Christian living. On the one hand, we know He is coming; on the other, we
don't know when. Yet every moment is an opportunity to make that coming more
central to our lives. Lord, may we welcome you daily in your Word, your
Sacraments, and in all our brothers and sisters!
Homily Hints
Zep 3:14-18a
Phil 4:4-7
Lk 3:10-18
As Christmas draws closer, the
Church’s liturgy today emphasizes the theme of joy, which is not simply a
happiness based on good circumstances, but a profound exultation of spirit based
on the salvation that comes from God himself. Every human spirit longs for joy,
but often does not know how to find it. Instead, we are all too aware of the
things that rob us of joy and peace, and the evils, both in our own lives and in
the world, from which we need to be saved.
Advent is about the expectation
of complete salvation. It is not a time that we pretend that Christ has not come
and try to imagine welcoming him for the first time; rather, it is a time when,
acknowledging that Christ has already come, we await the full unfolding of the
effects of the salvation he brings. That’s what the first and second readings
today refer to. “He has turned away your enemies…you have no further misfortune
to fear…Have no anxiety at all…” People may find these assurances unrealistic,
but they are not. For one thing, the coming of Christ has destroyed the power of
sin and death at its roots. No matter what misfortunes may still happen, or what
causes of anxiety may still torment us, the fact is that we always have access
to God. That is why we dismiss anxiety from our minds. He has baptized us in the
Holy Spirit, as John the Baptizer promised (today’s Gospel). That Holy Spirit
gives us total access to God, to an understanding of his word, and to the grace
of salvation. Hence, no matter what is happening in our lives, we can say “Merry
Christmas.”
The total salvation Christ
brings, which is unfolding each day, is physical as well as spiritual. The whole
universe will be transformed. All physical violence, such as abortion, will be
overcome. Therefore, we rejoice now, as we embrace the Christ who has already
come, and as we wait in joyful hope for him to come again.
Liturgical Resources
