Third sunday in Advent

The third Sunday in Advent-C




Dear friends in Christ, I am so happy to welcome you all for today’s Holy Mass. Today we celebrate the third Sunday in Advent. Dear friends, every time we come to Church, we recognize the presence of Christ our Lord in the sacraments that He instituted for our spiritual development and we recognized Him in our brothers and sisters in need and every time we come to Church, we recognize Christ our Lord in our prayers and spiritual intentions.

Today we celebrate the third Sunday called “joyful Sunday”. It is called joyful Sunday because Christ the Light of the world is coming to give us unending life and joy. The gospel says that Mary arose in those days and went with haste to the hill country of Judea to be with Elizabeth her relative. As she was filled with the Holy Spirit, Mary recognized the importance of being with others and extended her help to people in need. The very presence of God motivated her to leave behind certain things and go to distant land to help Elizabeth. When Elizabeth recognized the presence of God with Mary, the child in her womb leaped for joy. Elizabeth who was filled with the power of the Spirit acclaimed with a loud voice saying, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb”.

As we come to Church, we recognize the presence of Christ our Lord in the sacraments. The very recognition of the presence of Christ helps us to leave behind certain things and hold on to Him who is full of love and kindness. Yes, the sacraments teach us that we are here only temporarily. This is not our home and we belong to the eternal home called heaven where we shall see our God face to face and celebrate life without end. The very recognition of Christ in the sacrament helps us to leave behind certain things namely the things that hinder us from going to Him, they can be physical or emotional challenges. They can be material or world things. As we leave behind like Mary we too get up and go to others in need.

The result of recognizing Christ in the sacrament leads us to others, because we find the image and likeness of God our father in each and every one of human being. As we help others, we find more of Christ’s love and kindness; His compassion and forgiveness overflowing everywhere. There will be a mutual recognition of Christ in us. As Mary went to Elizabeth; Elizabeth also found Christ in Mary. Thus we all begin to celebrate God in us.

As we help others, we then begin to pray more and do more spiritual practices. We begin to recognize our spiritual side and begin to thank God for everything. Yes, this third Sunday invites us to know that we belong to God alone. So as we are going to receive a special anointing for healing and reconciliation, let us thank God for sending His only Son Christ among us and let us thank Him for helping us to deepen our faith in Him each and every day in Christ our Lord. Amen.