Now the
people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts
whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, 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." Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the
people.
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Reflection:
The
story is told about a boy who was taught by his father that the only way to
happiness is to accumulate wealth. He imbibed his father’s teachings so he
studied very well and he eventually became one of the very rich in their town.
But even if he was very rich already he was still not happy.
So he went to a wise old man to ask
for an advice. The wise old man gave him only one advice: Learn to share
whatever you have for it is in sharing that you would find the elusive joy and
happiness that you are seeking. He followed the wisdom filled advice and he
finally experienced the joy and happiness that he was seeking.
In our gospel the crowds asked John
the Baptist, "What should we do?" John said to them in reply,
"Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And
whoever has food should do likewise." Perhaps John noticed the crowd were
becoming self-centered already. They only cared for their own needs and never
on the needs of their fellowmen. Hence, the advice of John to share.
Christmas is not about what we will
receive. It is about what we can give because the real essence of Christmas is
in giving not in receiving. Let us try to wholeheartedly share and we
would feel the highest degree of joy and happiness that we would not be
able to feel when we accept gifts.
On this third Sunday of advent John
the Baptist message is loud and clear it is about learning to share no matter
how little so long as it comes from the bottom of our hearts. Let us give to
the poor, to those who are in need, let us share to those who cannot pay back
our generosity.
There are many of them. For example, the poor and homeless that we come across in the street. Those who are sick including those who got sick of covid-19. Let us give to them without expecting anything in return so that we would experience the true joy and happiness that only Jesus can give us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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