This Sunday the Church celebrates Gaudete Sunday, taken from Saint Paul’s command to the Philippians which we hear in the second reading, “ Gaudete semper in Domino,” “Rejoice in the Lord always again I say rejoice.” Elsewhere he said the same thing to the Christians in Thessalonika: “This is God’s will for you: rejoice always!” (1 Thess 5:16). One of the characteristics of that new life being offered, of the truly Christian life with Jesus, is joy.To live this way is ultimately the response to the question, “What must I do?” To receive this gift, open it, and live by it, is what we make straight the paths, lower the mountains, fill the valleys for.
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Jesus would come with fire, John indicates, to clear his threshing floor of chaff so that we might be free to live this new, fully Christian, way of life. John’s baptism at the Jordan was just a sign of the need for the forgiveness of sins and of a new life the baptism Jesus would inaugurate, by the power of the Holy Spirit, would actually accomplish that forgiveness and make possible that new life together with him, a life that rejects Satan, his empty promises and evil works, and lives consciously by faith in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in communion with the holy, Catholic Church, forgiven by sin, risen with Christ, seeking eternal life. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” John was preparing us for Jesus and for our living out the true meaning of Christian baptism. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. “I am baptizing you with water,” he blared, “but one mightier than I is coming. Ultimately he summons them to a new life through a life-changing relationship with the One for whom he was preparing the way. But John calls us further than asking for and making such minor or major course corrections, as important as they are.We need to be willing to make a journey out into the desert, away from our comforts, and with courage ask not John, but God in prayer, or even his earthly emissaries, “When then should I do?” And then, as fruits of repentance and a desire for renewal in our faith, act on what God through prayer, conscience or his representative indicates.
We are called to be generous in sharing what we possess with those in need, to avoid greed, be just, tell the truth, and be content with what we have rather than obsessed about more. We need to be just as practical when we hear John the Baptist’s message each Advent.When even the Roman soldiers present had their hearts pierced by his words to ask what they had to do, he told them to practice justice rather than use their power for extortion, to tell the truth rather than falsely accuse, and to be satisfied with their wages so that they would not be prey to corruption. He called them to self-giving charity: “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none and whoever has food should do likewise.” When despised tax collectors asked him the same question, he instructed them to stop collecting more than is prescribed and basically cease their greedy ways and the notorious shakedowns of their own people to which they were accustomed.
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