ADVENT:
Sunday III - year CPsalm Isaiah 12:2-3,4, 5-6
Philippians 4:4-7
Luke 3:10-18
Our reading today is from the final chapter of the prophet Zephaniah which foretells a day of feasting when the Lord God will be in the midst of his people. It is just such a day of feasting for which we are preparing in our Advent liturgies. We look forward to a celebration of what we know already to be true, namely, that the Lord God is in our midst, exulting over us and renewing us. We are encouraged to be filled with joy ... perhaps with some awareness that just about now in our preparation for the festivity of Christmas we feel somewhat under pressure, perhaps a bit anxious.
Our response verses are from chapter 12 of the Book of Isaiah, verses that are called a "song of a redeemed people." To appreciate our response, it helps to know that in the previous chapter we have a prophecy about the renewed humanity of messianic times: "A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse ... the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him." There is then a further vision of the gathering of exiles from the four corners of the world: "the root of Jesse" is set up as a signal or sign for the nations to seek out, and to recognize as God in our midst.
And so we are bid to "Cry out with joy and gladness: for among [us] is the great and Holy One of Israel" (Is. 12:6, responsorial verse). We have language of thanksgiving in our response. This God among us is recognized as the source of strength and courage for his people, and for anyone who will accept him as savior (vs. 2). The nations coming together thank God by makong known his deeds, his saving deeds/interventions (vs. 4 & 5). Such is the joy of all that they must shout it out. They cannot keep silent about God in their midst (vs. 6).
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could elicit that kind of response today, from ourselves, from our community?