Gospel: Luke 3:10-18
The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What
should we do?” He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two cloaks should share
with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” Even
tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should
we do?” He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.”
Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?” He told them, “Do
not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with
your wages.”
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:
If you will try to ask kids as to what is
Christmas for them. Perhaps, majority of them would say that Christmas is about
Santa Clause and the gifts that he would bring them. Even if they are wrong. This
is is understandable being kids their minds are being bombarded to focus on the
material side of Christmas. However, we must point out to them the real essence
of Christmas and that is the coming birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.
In our gospel for this third Sunday of advent
John gives us another angle about Christmas that we must seriously look into.
When John was asked by the crowd; “What should we do”? John told them share
your cloaks and your food. Then he told the taxmen stop collecting more than
what is prescribed. Afterwards, he told the soldiers stop being extortionists
and be satisfied with your wages.
Through his actions and words John is telling
us that Christmas is not all about the material things of this world. That
Christmas is about giving and sharing, especially to those who are poor which
cannot repay our generosity. Christmas is also about repentance and changing
our ways for the better. That’s why he said to the taxmen and the soldiers:
“Stop your extortions and be satisfied with your wages.”
This consumer and gadget driven world are
slowly taking from us the true essence of Christmas we must not allow it to
succeed. We must continue to focus our attention on the coming birth of Jesus. Because
this is the true spirit and essence of Christmas that the gospel wants us all
to live and imbibe.
Let us not focus on the material things for it
gives us superficial joy and happiness. Let us rather fix our sight on
something that gives us real joy and happiness. Joy and happiness that nobody
can take away from us. Joy and happiness that is much deeper and profound and
this is the birth of Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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