ALL SAINTS MARGARET STREET
Advent III – High Mass
Fr Ivan Aquilina
"Rejoice in the Lord always," says the Entrance Antiphon today.
This Rose colour Sunday invites us to think on Joy. Joy is the basic quality
of the Christian. We are not talking about artificial joy but something
that flows naturally from sharing Christ's life, from walking in his footsteps.
Joy is the normal experience of the Christian. A sad Christian is a contradiction
in terms. The whole purpose of the coming of Jesus was to bring freedom,
joy and peace not only in the future but here and now. Christian joy is
deep down in the soul and is not incompatible with physical and emotional
pain or difficult external circumstances these experiences will only be
a temporary setback. It is, as Jesus says, something that no one can take
away from us; the peace and joy that pass all understanding.
In front of this call for joy we make ours the question of the people
to John the Baptist: What than shall we do? Note: not what should others
do but what shall we do? Not what shall I do but what shall we do? The
call for Christian Joy does not fall on us as a collection of individuals
but as the one body of the living Christ.
John instructs the people to be kind and lovable. He challenges us to
adopt a whole new attitude in life, an attitude of sacrificial love. In
the words of St. Paul “Let your gentleness be known to everyone,
for the Lord is near.”
What than shall we do?
We need to look at how we treat other people and make sure that we really
love others with the love of Christ, a love that knows no cost, looks
at no face, considers no colour or creed and is not impressed with any
CV: a truthful and sacrificial love. Again: kindness of heart.
What than shall we do?
We ask for God’s forgiveness for those times when we did not love.
In this age when no one wants to take responsibility for anything, when
it is always someone else’s fault, or society’s fault, or
our genes fault, we need to recognize our responsibility for our actions
and seek forgiveness. We have confession to give us the opportunity to
say, “I take responsibility for my actions and I seek God’s
forgiveness so I can be a more loving person.” The loving kindness
that St Paul speaks about is the one that brings joy. It is the kindness
and love that does not allow the environment which made the massacre of
Ipswich possible and that shows that all of us play a part in the problem
and also in the solution.
What than shall we do?
Closely connected with seeking forgiveness, in fact fundamental to seeking
forgiveness, is offering forgiveness. John the Baptist called people to
make a radical change in their lives. Advent is about a radical change
in the world and a radical change in us; a change that seeks and offers
forgiveness in equal measure.
What than shall we do?
We take a look at our prayer lives, in order to make time to converse
with the Lord daily. If something is really important, we make time for
it. It makes no difference how busy we are. We need to be with the Lord
everyday.
What than shall we do?
“Rejoice,” the Church tells us. The Lord is in our midst.
The Kingdom of God is at hand and we are members of that Kingdom.
What than shall we do?
In giving and receiving forgiveness we find our Lord. After finding him,
like John the Baptist, we lead others to his feet that they may know him
personally. Our role is, like the Baptist, to step aside once the introductions
are over and leave Jesus to do his work.
This is what we do: through forgiveness given and received,
through prayer and a life of genuine kind love we share in the life of
Christ who alone gives that joy which overspills abundantly to all those
around us and beyond. Our Blessed Lord offers us a life of joy that imparts
joy; a life that is the germinating seed of the kingdom yet to come. This
is what the Church calls us for today; this is what I invite you to meditate
upon during this last week of Advent.