3 rd Sunday of Advent - C

“What should we do?” the crowds asked John the Baptist. “Share with the needy,” was his response. “What should we do?” the tax collectors and the soldiers asked John.“Treat people fairly,” was John's response. These are certainly legitimate questions, and very noble and laudable good works. But the questions of the crowds and the responses of John do not reflect our deepest desires and our ultimate aspirations.

“What should we do?” asked all who were baptized by John. “Follow the one who is mightier than I,” would be his ultimate response. In the end, John would ultimately point those who came to him in the direction of Jesus. John was the voice; Jesus is the Word. John was the messenger; Jesus is the message.

“What should we do?” is a legitimate question to ask at all times, and it is a question we ask in a special way at this time of the year. “What can I do?” “How can I help?” “What can I bring?” – these are questions we ask all the time when we are invited to a Christmas party. “What can I do?” “How can I help?” – these are the questions people ask so generously when we recall and reach out to those who are needy at this time of the year.

“What can I do?” “How can I help?” – these are the questions we ought to be asking when we call to mind relationships that need healing at this time of the year. But “What can I do?” and “How can I help?” are not the questions that express our deepest desires and our ultimate aspirations. Just as John gave way to Jesus, the voice gave way to the Word, the messenger gave way to the message, so our questions regarding what we ought to do will have to give way to the most important question, “What are we to be?”

“What are we to be?” is the question whose answer we find in Christ Jesus. We are to be, first and foremost, disciples, followers, of the Lord. St. Augustine teaches us that the greatest honor we give to Mary is not the title Mother of God but Disciple of the Lord, the one who heard the Word of God and put it into practice.

“What are we to be?” We are to be people who are as familiar with Jesus as we are with our very best friend. And the way we come to that familiarity with Jesus is by reflecting on his Word and receiving with love the gift of his sacraments.

“What are we to be?” The Fathers of the Church taught that we are to become what we receive in the Eucharist – the Body of Christ, offered to God, blessed, broken and shared with others. There is certainly much that we ought to do – in preparation for Christmas, in sharing with the needy, in treating others with justice but, before we do anything, it is more important to attend to who it is and what we are to be.

As we heed the words of the prophet Zephaniah and the apostle Paul today, let us be people who shout for joy, who exult in the Lord, and who rejoice always. And while we give thanks today for the message of John the Baptist, let us also imitate the example of Mary, who reflected on the Word and pondered so much in her heart.

Today the Word of God invites us to ask, “What should we do?” But let us also always remember that the Word of God ultimately teaches us what we are to be – disciples of the Lord who has come into the world, is present in our midst today, who will come again.

Thomas P. Ferguson
December 17, 2006