Homily - 3rd Sunday of Advent - Sunday 17th December 2023

Homily

3rd Sunday of Advent

Sunday 17th December 2023

Last week, we heard from Mark’s Gospel about John the Baptist preparing the way for the Lord. This week we hear the same story from John’s Gospel. John the Baptist, even says he is the one Isaiah prophesised as being “a voice that cries in the wilderness: Make a straight way for the Lord.” (John 1:23) He had already stated that he was not the Christ, nor was he Elijah, so those quizzing him challenged him for baptising people. John replied he baptised with water, while one who stood among them, he was unfit to undo his sandal-strap was the one, yet they did not know him.

Next week, the 4th Sunday of Advent is also Christmas Eve. Christmas is almost upon us. We are running out of time. In Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, Bob Crotchet felt his time was running out to prepare for Christmas, when Old Ebenezer Scrooge made him work right up to the last minute of Christmas Eve, squeezing every bit of time out of his employee to make even more money. It didn’t matter that Bob had a family to go home to, who needed help with their preparations, especially as the family worried this could be Tiny Tim’s last Christmas. They wanted this to be special, as much as they could.

Scrooge’s mind was more on the bottom dollar. His god was the crumbly type that could rot away, but he didn’t even know it. Yet, as nightfall came, and the streetlamps were lit, there was much in store to surprise old Scrooge this Christmas Eve night. For he has his own visitors coming, four in total, his old dead boss, Jacob Marley, whose soul was wrapped in chains bound up in his own sins. He had come to warn Scrooge that if he continued his path he was also destined to hell.

Mr Marley had come to prepare Scrooge for three special visitors. The spirit of Christmas Past came to show Scrooge his childhood, happier times as an adult but how lust for money had deprived him of his love for Belle. The spirit of Christmas Present came to remind Scrooge what Christmas was all about, a time for Christian charity, being generous, and showing goodwill to everyone. He is shown how life should be, and Scrooge is eager to learn, being humbled by the experience, especially when he sees how Bob Crotchet, though poor, was able to make the occasion special for his wife and family because of the love they had for one another. Scrooge is also informed that unless Bob’s circumstances are changed soon, his son Tiny Tim will not survive.

The final visitor is silent, but his appearance has Scrooge quaking in his boots. The Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come brought the most dread, as Scrooge’s potential future was revealed before him. His current course would see him in Hell, bound by the same chains as Jacob Marley, with cash boxes, and ledger books prohibiting him from Heaven because of his selfish ways. His death would be treated either with indifference or with joy by everyone who knew him. For all his earthly wealth, none of it could be taken beyond the grave.

Yet, even at this last hour, Ebenezer Scrooge was told there was hope, he could still be redeemed if he could change his ways.

Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians encourages us to be happy always, to be in constant prayer, and for everything give God thanks. The Spirit should be free, and we respect prophesy. We need to consider our actions, mindful of whether good or bad will come of them. If we ask God to guide us, we can guarantee to be kept safe, without blame in our spirit, soul, and body.

With God’s Spirit, we can proclaim the Good News to the poor and downhearted. This message will set those bound up to be free again, and our souls, like Blessed Mary, Mother of Our Lord, will be able to rejoice and give glory to God. For indeed, He does marvel for all of us, and if we hold him in awe, his mercy will be for all time. Though we are nothing, he will fill the hungry with good things and send the wealthy away empty. God’s name is Holy, he will give us our daily needs, and forgive us for our failings if we forgive others, he will not let us fall into temptation and will protect us from all evil.

There is still time for us to prepare, for we neither know the time nor day Our Saviour will return. We should consider each moment going forward as if He had returned. Our actions going forward should be for good through our charity and love for others. Let our souls Glorify the Lord.

Amen.

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