Amplifiers!

 

Third Sunday of Advent 

13 December 2020

First Reading IS 61:1-2A, 10-11

The spirit of the LORD God is upon me,

because the LORD has anointed me;

he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor,

to heal the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives

and release to the prisoners,

to announce a year of favor from the LORD

and a day of vindication by our God.

 

I rejoice heartily in the LORD,

in my God is the joy of my soul;

for her has clothed me with a robe of salvation

and wrapped me in a mantle of justice,

like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem,

like a bride bedecked with her jewels.

As the earth brings forth its plants,

and a garden makes its growth springs up,

so will the Lord GOD make justice and praise

spring up before all the nations.

 

Second Reading 1 THES 5:16-24

 

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.

In all circumstances give thanks,

for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

Do not quench the Spirit.

Do not despise prophetic utterances.

Test everything; retain what is good.

Refrain from every kind of evil.

 

May the God of peace make you perfectly holy

and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body,

be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The one who calls you is faithful,

and he will also accomplish it. 

 

Gospel JN 1:6-8, 19-28

 

A man named John was sent from God.

He came for testimony, to testify the light,

so that all might believe through him.

He was not the light,

but came to testify 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 you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?"

John answered them,

"I baptized 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.

Reflection

By: Anabelle Payod-Balla

 

We love listening to a variety of songs - rock, old, country, religious, anime, love songs, etc. And we like it loud and clear specially when it sparks some dancing or when most of us are singing along with  the music. Amplifiers help us increase the volume and allow us to hear the voicing and instruments clearly.

 

John is singing beautiful song. He is inviting us to help prepare the way of the Lord. We can help amplify his message. Come and help straighten the path for Jesus. Come and help proclaim the Word of God.

 

Come and sing God's message to the world!

 

Like John, may God also send us as witnesses. To bear witness to the Light, so that everyone might believe through us.

 

May we begin the courage to seize opportunities to bear witness to God's light and love for all of us this Advent season.

 

Prayer

 

Father, You are the reason of our existence. Help us to do better in serving You. Make us worthy to help straighten the path that leads to You. Please grant us steadfast faith and the determination to proclaim Your words this Advent season. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.