Homily for the Third Sunday of Advent
(Dec 17, 2006)
Intro:
Recently I watched two movies from the Lord of the Rings series.
In both stories why was it
that when things seemed darkest and the forces of evil were winning,
that a great cry of joy went up? Because on the horizon appeared a
neighbor king who was coming to save them.
Our joy comes when our God and
king draws near. We know
that we are going to be saved and the forces of darkness cannot defeat
us when our Savior comes near.
Paul writes:
Brothers and Sisters, rejoice in
the Lord! Again, I say
Rejoice! The Lord is near.
Paul says
the sign that the Lord is near is when our kindness is shown to all.
When John the
Baptist announces that the Lord is near, he tells everyone they should
share what they have with their neighbor and act with justice toward all
*
Tax collectors should stop abusing their position for their own
enrichment
* Soldiers as Police should not use their power for extortion or
blackmail.
When we act with justice and charity, the Lord is near to us.
When I obey God and do the right thing, it gives me real joy.
At that moment God is very near to me, even to the point that
God’s Spirit is moving inside of me.
Story: The great
musician Haydn, was once asked why his church music was so cheerful,
and he replied: “When I think
upon God, my heart is so full of joy that the notes dance and leap
from my pen. And since God has given me a cheerful heart it will be
pardoned me that I serve him with a cheerful spirit.”
Story: a child said
of Principal Rainy: he must go to Heaven every night. He is so happy
every day. Principal Rainy
once said: “Joy is the flag
that is flown from the castle of the heart when the King is in
residence.”
Me: Because I tend
toward the serious side, I need to remember the words:
If you have the joy of Christ in your heart, why doesn’t your face
know it? ..show it?
Maybe each of us should be more conscious of letting my face know Christ
is in my heart.
May your joy show through. Let your flag fly so others will know
the King is in residence
Story: Michael
Jordan, the greatest basketball player of his era, one cold
night was making his way through the Chicago Bulls crowd. Just before
getting into his car he saw a little boy in a wheel chair 20 feet away.
Because of a curvature in his spine the boy could not look directly at
forward.
Jordan
walked over to the boy and knelt down. The youngster was so excited he
tried to get out of his chair, but
Jordan
put his arm gently on the boy’s frail shoulder. The boy’s father
tried to snap a picture, but the camera wouldn’t work.
Jordan
noticed and continued to kneel there. Only after the father was able to
take the picture, did Michael return to his car.
The
boy’s eyes glistened with tears of joy. The father and son would
replay that moment many times. As a great highlight in his life, that
boy will always know that one night Michael Jordan cared
enough to enter his world.
Conclusion: John the
Baptist calls us all to do the right thing. It’s true that a lot of
joy comes to me when I share; when I do good for others, but at my
depths, my greatest joy comes from knowing that the great King has come
to save us and when I experience the King coming to visit my castle.
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