“What should we do”? That is the question in St. Luke’s Gospel today that the crowds are asking St. John the Baptist when he challenges people to repent from their sinful ways. His response: Be Lovable to others. This should not be so difficult considering we are approaching the official Christmas season with the birth of Jesus in less than two weeks. The world decided in October prior to Halloween that we will have a Christmas of buying things to show our love for others. This is not the love of which John the Baptist speaks.
A better question to ask ourselves to help focus how to share God’s joy with others is: What do I need to change in my life to be a lovable person to others? St. John tells the crowd to share their food and clothing with those in need. St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians writes: “Let your gentleness be known to everyone, for the Lord is near.”
Both responses may call for a change in attitude as to how we accept God’s definition of justice from the worlds. The world rules by laws with an expectation of payback. God’s justice is about a selfless love of putting others first based upon meeting their needs, no need for reciprocation.
In addition to our attitude change as mentioned above, there are other areas to consider keeping in focus such as:
Asking for God’s help and forgiveness when we reject an opportunity to be kind by being accountable and taking responsibility;
Offering forgiveness rather than being hypocritical by looking to take vengeance on someone who hurt us causing us to sin; and
Enhancing Sunday and holy day worships by daily communicating with God in prayer at least 10 minutes in morning, midday and evening times. In doing so, we can thank Him for allowing us to follow in His ways by adhering to His teachings.
In this Advent season, we are preparing for the coming of Jesus in three separate ways: Through His incarnate birth; His judgment of us by how we led our life; and the final coming at the end of time.
The outcome of doing the above will produce the type of joy in our hearts of which the Prophet Zephaniah in the first reading wrote about in the seventh century B.C. In trying to console the chosen race of Jews who lost their way by following false gods, he wanted them to know that if they turn back to God, they can rejoice because He will take away any judgments against them along with their enemies. They no longer will need to fear death and eternal punishment.
Let us take this week to investigate how we can modify our attitude to better practice love, mercy and forgiveness in reaching out to others to share God’s gift of joy. Who knows, we may realize that Jesus, our Christ, is always here for us as we prepare for the Kingdom of God and all we had to do was accept St. John the Baptist’s challenge to be lovable.
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