Catholic TV Mass Online December 13, 2020: Third Sunday of Advent
Presider: Fr. Chuck Hanel
Parish: Queen of Apostles
Choir: Holy Family
TEXT FROM THE GOSPEL AND HOMILY
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit.
A reading from the holy gospel according to John. Glory to you o Lord.
A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, "who are you?" he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, "I am not the Christ." So they asked him, "What are you then? Are you Elijah?" and he said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" he answered, "No." so they said to him, "Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?" he said: "I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, make straight the way of the Lord' as Isaiah the prophet said. "Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie." This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you lord Jesus Christ.
I actually picture John the Baptist in this gospel reading today, a little giddy he's excited he's happy about what's coming after him and he's especially happy that he can be the one to announce it! The bearer of good news! He doesn't have to be the light. He knows he's not the light himself and he's very happy and content to be the one who points him out coming right after and so I can see John almost trying to stifle a laugh as these poor Levites and priests and pharisees come to him with real specific instructions to find out who this guy is that's preaching in the desert. And they come with all their preconceived notions and it becomes like a game of 20 questions. Is he the messiah?! Oh no is he Elijah then? No one of the prophets? And I can just see himself almost slapping himself as the guesses are so off the mark as to be beyond pale, he knows John does, that he gets to announce the one who will proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, freedom for prisoners and one who will announce a year of favor from the lord. So cut back to today. We who come after we know who John is referring to. We know who he is. We know that he is among us and we know that he is the light. The light has come into the world. Those of us who are a little older remember back, oh must be over 25 years ago now, remember when queen Elizabeth of Great Britain was referring to a very difficult year it happened to be the year 1992, her family had had some divorces and things like that and remember when she referred to it as an annus horribilis, a horrible year. Well, today John the Baptist announces to us once more that regardless of what the last year has been about, this next year is an annus gratia a year of favor.
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