Third Sunday of Advent

Father Kerry Prendiville
Homily from the Televised Mass, NewsCenter1
Third Sunday of Advent, December 17, 2023

How often are any of us asked the question, “who are you?” The question is usually straightforward in social settings, meeting someone for the first time. John the Baptizer was asked in many ways, he was asked first to answer who he was not. So he responded saying, “I am not the Messiah.” 

“Are you Elijah?”

“I am not Elijah.” I am not who or what you expect, is what he is saying.   

He answers by giving his role in this world, “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert; make a straight path to the Lord.

He knew his name was John and he had to announce the coming of the Lord. He also knew that his life had prepared him to empty himself of his own desires. To be the voice of radical repentance, going to the root of his humanity and seeing that he would decrease so the Lord may increase. And that was his message. Turn away from sin. Make ready a straight path for the Lord. 

More frequently, the question who are you, in our lives may remain oblique. We approach it from less direct paths. The world is separated into two groups: those who signal their turn in traffic and those who don’t signal where they’re going, right or left. We find out who they are after we see what they do. And upon reflection we can decide what direction they’re taking. Is it where everyone else is going or is it the road less traveled?

When we are obliquely asked who we are, it’s a time for us, like John, to decide if we have come for testimony. Have we come for witness? Are we ready to tell who Jesus is? And perhaps more importantly, are we ready to fully receive Jesus in our heart and soul, with all our mind, with all our strength. 

What we end up doing sometimes tells us who we are. If we pay attention to what we do with our time, our leisure, within our family, in our community, we come to a greater understanding of ourselves. So, I know I must be the peacemaker. Or another person says I’m the creative one. Or I like to work behind the scenes and do what needs to be done. We’re all saying, “I am the voice crying out. Lord, message me.” 

What will our message be? What’s our message? People often have a message given in very few words given by friends at their funeral. “I never knew him to say something bad about anyone. I always appreciated … I always say. I wish that was me, but it’s not.”

Brothers and sisters, this Advent season, we have the mission to find our voice. We lift our voice or our talent, to honor, announce, to make known, serve, give glory to the one coming into the world: Messiah, savior, child. We make straight our path to the Lord. We remember who we are and whose name we bear. We clear out the cobwebs and remove obstacles to the Lord so that we can pray, rejoicing just as Paul did in his community with the Thessalonians. “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” 

This Gaudete Sunday, let us rejoice. Rejoice in the Lord, by not quenching the spirit which is calling us to a deeper invitation for more.