3rd Sunday of Advent 2024 - Year C

Luke 3:10-18. And the crowds asked John the Baptist, "What then should we do?"

This third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday. The third Advent candle is rose-coloured and on this Sunday. Gaudete is the Latin word for Rejoice. Amidst the more sombre mood of Advent, the call to watch and wait, the colour Rose is intended to sound a note of joy as the day of Christmas draws nearer. Advent reminds us that God is coming and we joyfully celebrate His closeness.

What should we do in preparation for Christ’s coming? You know when you are organising a birthday party you need to set out the plates and cups, the food and the drinks, prepare a seatingarea, eating area maybe even a playing area. If you are inexperienced in hosting a party you might be a little overwhelmed not knowing where to start and what is needed. So what should we do for Jesus’ birthday/welcome home party? John the Baptist was asked this question. They know that the Messiah is coming, what should they do to prepare for Him. John’s answer is to repent, be baptized and change their life, stop committing the evil and start doing good, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.". So what should we do?

Our Lady of Fatima's messages, given to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal in 1917, include several key requests for Catholics:

Amend Your Lives: “They (sinners) must amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins. Do not offend the Lord our God any more, for He is already too much offended.”

Pray the Rosary Daily: “Pray! Pray a great deal and make sacrifices for sinners, for many souls go to hell because they have no one to pray and make sacrifices for them.”

Offer Sacrifices: “Make sacrifices for sinners, and say often, especially while making a sacrifice: ‘O My Jesus, it is for love of Thee, for the conversion of sinners and in reparation for sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer this sacrifice to Thee’.”

Our Lady of Akita's messages, given to Sister Agnes Sasagawa in Akita, Japan, in 1973, include several key requests:

Pray the Rosary: “Pray very much the prayers of the rosary. I alone am able still to save you from the calamities which approach. Those who place their confidence in me will be saved.”

Penance for Sins: “Prayer, penance and courageous sacrifices can soften the Father's anger.”

Trust in God: She urged people to place their confidence in her and trust in God to be saved from approaching calamities.

Stay Faithful: She warned of a period of trial within the Church, urging the faithful to remain steadfast despite challenges

Our Lady of La Salette appeared to two children, Maximin Giraud and Mélanie Calvat, in La Salette, France, in 1846. Her messages included several key requests:

Repentance and Conversion: She urged people to repent for their sins and convert their hearts to God.

Observance of the Lord’s Day: She emphasized the importance of keeping the Sunday day holy and refraining from unnecessary work.

Avoid Blasphemy: She asked people to stop using the name of Jesus in vain and to avoid blasphemy.

Prayer: She encouraged regular prayer, especially the daily recitation of the Rosary.

Reconciliation: Her message also highlighted the need for reconciliation with God and with others.

Our Lady repeats this same call to conversion that St John the Baptist gave. You might know how exciting it is when you have everything ready and you are just waiting for the guests to arrive, you might know how stressful it is when you are not ready and the guest are arriving. Full of joy we should look to Christ’s coming, we should have our house clean and in order, our best clothes fresh and clean, and good food and drinks ready. This is to say: Our house clean and in order meaning our clean lives, not living in sin, and in order, having a good spiritual life; best and fresh cloths, our souls washed in the sacrament of confession and filled with graces and blessings; good food and drink meaning good deads because just as food and drink take time, effort and attention, our good deeds also need time, effort and attention. As Christ is near let us ready ourselves and rejoice that we will have such a wonderful guest.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4,4-7.

“He [Jesus] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Luke 3:10-18.