A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.
And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord,’” as Isaiah the prophet said.”
Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?”
John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”
This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
The Word of the Lord.
Homily: Four Reasons Why Jesus Became One of Us
Today we celebrate Gaudete Sunday, which has been part of the Advent liturgy of our Church since Pope Gregory the Great introduced it back in the Sixth Century. The word gaudete is Latin for “rejoice,” and we do rejoice today, because we’re getting closer and closer to Christmas. Gaudete is the reason for the rose-colored vestments and Advent candle. This third Sunday of Advent reminds us that although we’re in a season of preparation, penance, and prayer, we can still rejoice in the fact that our Savior is almost here. One week from now, we’ll be celebrating with great joy the birth of our Lord and Savior, who is the source of all our joy. But as important as it is for us to celebrate the fact that he became one of us, it’s even more important to understand why he became one of us. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that Jesus became one of us for four reasons. Let’s take a quick look at each of them.
First, “The Word became flesh for us in order to save us by reconciling us with God” (Catechism #457). Ever since the original sin of our first parents, we’ve been in need of a Savior. Original sin is the natural tendency we have for putting our will above God’s will—and when we do this, it always ends badly for us. As a result of our rebellion against God, we became so lost and tangled up in the jungle of selfishness and sin, that we couldn’t find our own way back to God. That’s why the Father sent his Son into the jungle to rescue us.
Second, “The Word became flesh so that we might know God's love” (Catechism #458). God didn’t have to save us after we rebelled against him. He could have started his creation all over again with a new and improved version of us. So why didn’t he? Because his love for us wouldn’t let him. True love never gives up; it keeps on reaching out. This is what Isaiah shows us so beautifully in today’s first reading when he talks about a loving God who offers glad tidings to the poor, who heals the brokenhearted, who gives liberty to captives, and releases those in prison.
Third, “The Word became flesh to be our model of holiness” (Catechism #459). Holiness is simply the art of living well. When someone is holy, like the saints, it means that they have learned the art of living well. They have learned, as St Paul tells us in today’s second reading, to “Test everything; retain what is good,” and to “refrain from every kind of evil.” Jesus came to teach us how to be holy, no only by what he said, but more importantly by how he lived. And it is through his gift of the Holy Spirit that we can now become holy.
Fourth, “The Word became flesh to make us partakers of the divine nature” (Catechism #460). Jesus doesn’t want to lead us back to the earthly paradise that Adam and Eve were kicked out of. Instead, he wants to lead us to his home in heaven; he wants us to share his life with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Salvation isn’t just a ticket to eternal life. Salvation is grace! It’s like a divine blood transfusion where God’s own life is poured into our souls, making us his adopted children.
These four reasons are why Jesus decided to leave the glories of heaven to become one of us. This is what Christmas is really all about: Jesus becoming one of us, to save us, to prove God’s love for us, to teach us the art of living well, and to share his very life with us. And these are the reasons why Christians have such great joy. In the week that remains before Christmas, make sure you spend some quality time each day alone with God in prayer. St Paul tells us in today’s second reading, “Rejoice always,” and in the very next line he writes, “Pray without ceasing.” Prayer allows our joy to fully blossom in our hearts. The devil wants to keep us so busy during the holidays that we’ll be tempted to neglect our time of prayer, and our time of reading the Bible and reflecting on its wisdom. But Jesus is stronger than the devil, and during this holy Mass, he will give you the strength you need to overcome all obstacles and temptations. Make sure you take time today, and every day, to thank him for bringing you his salvation. When you do this, I promise you that you will experience the true meaning of Christmas joy. Gaudete! Rejoice! The Lord is almost here!