Saint John the Baptist was asked on three occasions in the Gospel of Saint Luke, “What should we do?” His answer given to the these questions point the way towards the one who is to come and what they must do if they are to be found receptive of Him. Saint John the Baptist makes it clear that he is not the Messiah, but only the precursor of the one who is to come.
As he stated in this gospel, “one mightier than I is coming.” During this season of Advent we prepare ourself for this coming of the Lord. He comes to us as Word Made Flesh, He comes to us in the Eucharist, and He will come again at the end of time. For this encounter with Him we must be found prepared.
Therefore, we too must ask this question which was given to Saint John the Baptist. “What should we do? This season of Advent assists us in making these preparations which are necessary in order that we may come to receive Him with joy. Sadly, we often spend Advent chasing after other pursuits that make us ready for Christmas in a worldly sense instead of a spiritual sense.
Whenever something is being asked of us it can be easy to forget that we are being called to place our trust in the Lord. Those who came to Saint John the Baptist were called to undergo hardships which would cause them to grow in their love of the Lord once He came. We too must undergo such penances in order that we may grow in our love for Him.
When we are liberated from our passions which hold us captive we are able to see the life that has been given through such action. We should never act as slaves to our passions, but as those who have been given freedom. Saint John the Baptist’s words were invitation to those who heard them to be liberated from all that held them captive.
On this 3rd Sunday of Advent we are told in the words of Saint Paul to “Rejoice in the Lord always.” Whenever we called upon to let go of that which is not necessary we are given reason to rejoice for we have been liberated. The world looks upon such acts of penance and is confused on why they would be a reason to rejoice.
We are able to rejoice for the Lord’s coming is nigh and through Him we have been given everything that we will ever need in order to be happy. Saint John the Baptist was giving aid to those who came to Him in order that they in due time could rejoice. So too by asking what we must do are we given reason to rejoice.
Let us dare to rejoice with the Lord always by doing whatever is necessary for us to receive Him at His coming. This is not a call to partially receive Him because we are found unwilling to to let go of something. This is a call to allow our whole to be lived in relationship with Him without compromise.
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