Homily: December 17, 2023, Third Sunday in Advent (Voice in the desert)

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 ‘I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, “Make straight the way of the Lord.”’

Has anyone here ever tried crying out in the desert?

I have never done it, and I wonder how it would be. Here we see our dear John the Baptist as the voice crying out in the desert, who would be listening to him?

Being a voice in the desert is going against the crowd, saying or doing things which are not popular even if it is the right thing. It is not easy. As a priest, I often find myself having to make tough decisions or say things according to my understanding of church teachings, which might not be agreeable with many people.

And it is also very hard to tell people that they need to live their life better, that what they are doing is sinful, that the worldly way is not the right way, especially when it seems to be enjoyable for them.

I, myself, am not perfect, not a saint, nor a holy person. I too am sinful and make wrong moves. So, who am I to judge? Who am I to correct others?

Yet, it is our Christian duty to help one another discern the right way, to follow God’s way, to find true peace and real joy, to take the right path to heaven and not the easy slide into hell.

That is why John the Baptist is ‘the voice of the desert’. His message is telling everyone that they have sinned, that they must repent and straighten their lives to be ready for the coming Messiah. It is not a nice message, not at all soothing to the ears, but very important and critical for anyone who wants to be saved.

“He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.” His voice is to lead others out of darkness and into the light.

But coming into the light means being vulnerable, being seen in all our sinfulness, acknowledging that we are wrong. It is frightening, isn’t it?

It is frightening if we are showing our ugly side to the world who will condemn us, but it is healing and redeeming if we are showing ourselves to God who loves us.

That is why many Catholics are still afraid to go for confession, until they realize they will receive peace and love from the mercy of God, it is not a sacrament of condemnation but a sacrament of reconciliation.

So, come for the sacrament of reconciliation if you have not done so in a long time. Encourage others to come too.

In the first reading, Isaiah prophesies what the Messiah is coming to do for us, “to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners…”

The coming of Jesus is good news, not bad news. He will comfort us who are sad and heal our broken hearts, He will free us who are stuck and enslaved. He is coming to help us!

It is not at all frightening to show our weaknesses to Jesus then, isn’t it?

The third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday, the Sunday of rejoicing. We rejoice because Christmas is near, our waiting will soon be over, Jesus is here, God is with us!

In another eight days, we will be commemorating the first Christmas, the most joyful event in the history of the universe. God comes as a human into our world to live with us. God wants to restore our relationship with Him which is broken by our sin.

John the Baptist is telling us to make straight the way of the Lord, to make it easier and faster for the Lord to come to us, to reach us as soon as possible. A straight path is the shortest path. Let not our sins, our pride, our resistance, our lack of faith hinder nor delay the Lord’s coming into our hearts, into our lives.

St. Paul says in the second reading, “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances.”

The Holy Spirit’s job is to help us come into full union with God, let us not make it harder for ourselves, let us not disregard the prophet’s warnings.

So, have you done what John the Baptist is telling us to do?

“Repent and believe in the Gospel!” 

Let us prepare our hearts, let us be sorry for our sins, let us believe in the good news and rejoice! God loves us, God comes to us, God is with us!

Let us conclude with St. Paul’s blessing for the Thessalonians:

“May the God of peace make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it.”

Amen!


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