Rejoice with Good News

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, Gaudete Sunday, declare our invitation to rejoice in our lives with Christ as we await the celebration of Jesus' birth.

Rejoice!

The reading from the Prophet Zephaniah proclaims a Song of Joy.

The title of the prophecy informs us that the ministry of Zephaniah took place during the reign of Josiah (640–609 B.C.), not long before the fall of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. The protest against the worship of false gods and the condemnation of foreign practices (1:8–9) may indicate that Zephaniah spoke during the height of Assyrian influence in the early years of Josiah’s reign, before Josiah launched the religious reforms praised by Israel’s historians (2 Kgs 22:1–23:30). If so, the prophecy of Zephaniah would be contemporary with the early prophecy of Jeremiah, with which it shares both language and ideas. (Zephaniah, THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH | USCCB, n.d.)

h. [3:14] Zec 9:9.

i. [3:17] Jl 2:27. (Zephaniah, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

The response from the Prophet Isaiah offers Thanksgiving and Praise.

* [12:1–6] Israel’s thanksgiving to the Lord, expressed in language like that of the Psalms. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)

The reading from the Letter of Paul to the Philippians celebrates Joy and Peace.

* [4:4] Rejoice: see note on Phil 3:1.

* [4:5] Kindness: considerateness, forbearance, fairness. The Lord is near: most likely a reference to Christ’s parousia (Phil 1:6, 10; 3:20–21; 1 Cor 16:22), although some sense an echo of Ps 119:151 and the perpetual presence of the Lord. (Philippians, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke presents the Preaching of John the Baptist.

* [3:1–20] Although Luke is indebted in this section to his sources, the Gospel of Mark and a collection of sayings of John the Baptist, he has clearly marked this introduction to the ministry of Jesus with his own individual style. Just as the gospel began with a long periodic sentence (Lk 1:1–4), so too this section (Lk 3:1–2). He casts the call of John the Baptist in the form of an Old Testament prophetic call (Lk 3:2) and extends the quotation from Isaiah found in Mk 1:3 (Is 40:3) by the addition of Is 40:4–5 in Lk 3:5–6. In doing so, he presents his theme of the universality of salvation, which he has announced earlier in the words of Simeon (Lk 2:30–32). Moreover, in describing the expectation of the people (Lk 3:15), Luke is characterizing the time of John’s preaching in the same way as he had earlier described the situation of other devout Israelites in the infancy narrative (Lk 2:25–26, 37–38). In Lk 3:7–18 Luke presents the preaching of John the Baptist who urges the crowds to reform in view of the coming wrath (Lk 3:7, 9: eschatological preaching), and who offers the crowds certain standards for reforming social conduct (Lk 3:10–14: ethical preaching), and who announces to the crowds the coming of one mightier than he (Lk 3:15–18: messianic preaching).

* [3:16] He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire: in contrast to John’s baptism with water, Jesus is said to baptize with the holy Spirit and with fire. From the point of view of the early Christian community, the Spirit and fire must have been understood in the light of the fire symbolism of the pouring out of the Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4); but as part of John’s preaching, the Spirit and fire should be related to their purifying and refining characteristics (Ez 36:25–27; Mal 3:2–3). See note on Mt 3:11.

* [3:17] Winnowing fan: see note on Mt 3:12. (Luke, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

Jeanne Schuler comments that by the third book, Zephaniah recovers his pastoral voice.  A prophet must not poison the people’s spirit.  Harsh threats do not bring life.  The prophet reminds the people that God is in our midst.  We are not forgotten.  “Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!”  God’s tenderness is always present.  It does not wait until we shape up and prove our worth.  We could not face our failures alone.  God is at our side and rejoices over us like parents sing to their babe.  Our being evokes God’s song of joy.

Father Greg Boyle, S.J., finds light in the darkness.  He works with young people in L.A. who have endured abandonment, abuse, neglect, prison, and violence…trauma exceeding that of soldiers back from combat.  Father Greg knows that he could never carry their burdens. Recovery at Homeboy Industries takes a path of being loved before milestones like sobriety or employment are reached.  The light is already present.  If we are mindful, we too will stand in awe. God’s splendor is here in each beloved.

Dropping this enormous inner burden of judgment allows us to make of ourselves what God wants the world to ultimately be: people who stand in awe…Readying oneself for awe, at every turn, insist that compassion is always the answer to the question before us.  (Greg Boyle, Barking to the Choir, 57). (Schuler, 2024)

Don Schwager quotes “Jesus baptizes Christians with the Holy Spirit and fire,” by Cyril of Jerusalem, 430-543 A.D.

"John, filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb, was sanctified for the purpose of baptizing the Lord. John himself did not impart the Spirit but preached the glad tidings of him who does. He says, 'I indeed baptize you with water, for repentance. But he who is coming after me, he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire' (Luke 3:16, Matthew 3:11). Why fire? Because the descent of the Holy Spirit was in fiery tongues [at Pentecost Acts 2:3]. Concerning this the Lord says with joy, 'I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish that it would be kindled!' (Luke 12:49)" (excerpt from CATECHETICAL LECTURES 17.8) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us  Meditation on Zephaniah 3:14-18 reminds us that today is Gaudete Sunday, a day set aside during Advent for rejoicing. Although Christmas is still ten days away, we can begin rejoicing in Jesus’ birth now. We can also look forward to Jesus’ Second Coming, when he will establish a new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1). Like the Israelites, we don’t know when that will happen, and yet we are called to rejoice in it. Why? For the same reason: because God keeps his promises.

So try to follow St. Paul’s advice from today’s second reading to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). Rejoice that the Lord loves you so much that he became man to save you. Rejoice that he is present in the Eucharist and wants you to be with him in the closest way possible. Rejoice in anticipation of life with God forever. Choose to rejoice today, no matter how you feel. Why? Because our Lord God always keeps his promises!

“Jesus, I rejoice in you always, now and forever!” (Meditation on Zephaniah 3:14-18, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler connects the theme of rejoicing from the Book of Zephaniah to our nearness to the feast of Christmas and the end to the difficulties of Israel. Paul, writing from prison to the persecuted Philippians emphasizes that true joy comes from being where we belong following the Will of God. In the Gospel, Luke presents the advice from John the Baptist to live well as he uses matrimonial symbolism of the sandal strap to indicate that Jesus, not the Baptist, is to marry Israel as the Messiah.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, describes how we can discover our true identity in God. There is only one question we must definitely answer: “Who am I?” Or, restated, “Where do I abide?” If we can get that right, the rest largely takes care of itself. Paul answers the questions directly: “You are hidden with Christ in God, and Christ is your life” (Colossians 3:3–4).

We are saved by standing consciously and confidently inside the force field that is Christ, not by getting it right in our private selves. This is too big a truth for the small self to even imagine. We’re too tiny, too insecure, too ready to beat ourselves up. We don’t need to be correct, but we can always try to remain connected to our Source. The great and, for some, disappointing surprise is that many people who are not at all correct are the most connected by reason of their intense need and desire. 

All we can do is fall into the Eternal Mercy—into Love—which we can never really fall out of because “we belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God,” as Paul so beautifully stated (1 Corinthians 3:23). Eventually, we know that we are all saved by mercy in spite of ourselves. That must be the final humiliation to the ego. 

Our holiness is really only God’s holiness, and that’s why it’s certain and secure. It is a participation in love, a mutual indwelling, not an achievement or performance on our part. “If anyone wants to boast, let them boast in the Lord,” Paul shouts (1 Corinthians 1:31). (Rohr, n.d.)

We rejoice on this Sunday as we ponder the Good News of our relationship with Christ and apply the advice of the Baptist concerning our execution of our responsibilities to others.

References

Isaiah, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 15, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/12?2 

Luke, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 15, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/3?10 

Meditation on Zephaniah 3:14-18. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved December 15, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/12/15/1151874/ 

Philippians, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 15, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/philippians/4?4 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Hidden with Christ. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 15, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/hidden-with-christ-2024/ 

Schuler, J. (2024, December 15). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Retrieved December 15, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/121524.html 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). He Who Is Mightier Than I Is Coming. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 15, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=dec15 

Zephaniah, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 15, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/zephaniah/3?14 

Zephaniah, THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 15, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/zephaniah/0 

Prophet and Prophecy

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to expect the guidance of the Spirit and the love of Christ to have an impact on our life today.

Turning Father to Son

The reading from the Book of Sirach praises Elijah.

* [48:11] Verse 11b is not extant in the Hebrew; it is represented in the Greek tradition by “for we too shall certainly live.” But this can hardly be the original reading. (Sirach, CHAPTER 48 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 80 is a prayer for Israel’s Restoration.

* [Psalm 80] A community lament in time of military defeat. Using the familiar image of Israel as a vineyard, the people complain that God has broken down the wall protecting the once splendid vine brought from Egypt (Ps 80:9–14). They pray that God will again turn to them and use the Davidic king to lead them to victory (Ps 80:15–19). (Psalms, PSALM 80, 2024)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus addresses the Coming of Elijah.

* [17:9–13] In response to the disciples’ question about the expected return of Elijah, Jesus interprets the mission of the Baptist as the fulfillment of that expectation. But that was not suspected by those who opposed and finally killed him, and Jesus predicts a similar fate for himself.

* [17:9] The vision: Matthew alone uses this word to describe the transfiguration. Until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead: only in the light of Jesus’ resurrection can the meaning of his life and mission be truly understood; until then no testimony to the vision will lead people to faith.

* [17:10] See notes on Mt 3:4; 16:14.

* [17:11–12] The preceding question and this answer may reflect later controversy with Jews who objected to the Christian claims for Jesus that Elijah had not yet come.

* [17:13] See Mt 11:14. (Matthew, CHAPTER 17 | USCCB, n.d.)

Edward Morse comments that in today’s gospel, our Lord connects Elijah to John the Baptist, as both prepared the way for future works of God in fulfillment of the Divine plan. 

In our own day, we tend to long for better days in years gone past.  But it is good to recall that those years gone past had their troubles, too.  We are left to work out what is needful in our own times, witnessing and living out the truth as best we know how, and looking with confidence to a future that is in the hands of God, who has graciously called us to live as his own people. (Morse, 2024)

Don Schwager quotes “John fulfills Elijah's prophetic ministry,” by John Chrysostom, 547-407 A.D.

"They did not know this from the Scriptures, but the scribes used to tell them, and this saying was reported among the ignorant crowd, as also about Christ. Therefore the Samaritan woman also said, 'The Messiah is coming; when he comes, he will show us all things' (John 4:25). And they themselves asked John, 'Are you Elijah or the prophet?' (John 1:21). For this opinion was strong, as I said, both the one about Christ and the one about Elijah, but they did not interpret it as it should have been. For the Scriptures speak of two comings of Christ, both this one that has taken place and the future one. Paul spoke of these when he said, 'For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright and godly lives in this world' (Titus 2:11-12).

"Behold the first advent, and listen to how he declares the coming advent: 'Awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ' (Titus 2:13). The prophets also mention both advents; of the one that is second they say that Elijah will be the forerunner; John was forerunner of the first, John whom Christ also called by the name Elijah, not because he was Elijah but because he was fulfilling Elijah's ministry. For just as Elijah will be the forerunner of the second advent, so John was of the first. But the scribes, confusing these things and perverting the people, mentioned that coming alone, the second one, to the people, and said, 'If this is the Christ, Elijah ought to have come first.' That is why the disciples also say, 'Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?'" (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 57.1) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 17:9-13 comments that Advent is a time when we reflect on how God fulfilled his promise to save his people. We are used to focusing on the miracle of his Incarnation, but today’s Gospel forces us to look instead at the price Jesus will pay at the end of his life. However, we shouldn’t let this rob us of our joy or cast a shadow over our preparations. Instead, we can reflect on the startling way that God has chosen to save us. We can marvel that he loved us so deeply that he did not hesitate to share the lowliness of our humanity. That he became a man who could be wounded, suffer, and die. That he went so far as to suffer and die for us!

This is the surprising love of God! There is no limit to what Jesus will do—to what he has already done—to love you. He loved you so much that he entered into your humanity and suffered to save you! That means you can approach him with confidence. You can bring him whatever hardships you are bearing, whatever sins you are struggling with. He understands you; he is right there beside you in the midst of it. He is with you. He can take all your hurts into his heart and pour out his love upon you. He is your Hero, your Savior, and your Lord.

“I praise you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth and suffering for me!” (Meditation on Matthew 17:9-13, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler traces the Book of Sirach to the time after Alexander the Great as part of an effort to present Jewish wisdom in contrast to Greek wisdom. Elijah is a unique figure in the history of the relationship of God to Israel. Friar Jude notes how Jesus points to John the Baptist as the figure who fulfills the expectation of the return of Elijah.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Author Shannon K. Evans who invites us to meditate on this passage from Julian of Norwich: 

I it am, the might and the goodness of fatherhood. 

I it am, the wisdom and the kindness of motherhood. 

I it am, the light and the grace that is all blessed love.  

I it am, the Trinity. 

I it am, the Unity. 

I it am, the high sovereign goodness of all manner of things.  

I it am that makes you to love.  

I it am that makes you to long.  

I it am, the endless fulfilling of all true desires. [1] (Rohr, n.d.) 

Evans writes that the phrase “I it am” can trip you up. But try to put yourself into a mystical frame of mind and stay with it. “When I read this passage, I am reminded of the limitlessness of the divine, the absolute improbability of confining the Holy One to a box of our making….”

We have a tendency to hold God in the past or to seek Divine assistance in anticipation of the future even as the Spirit invites us to live now in the Presence.

References

Matthew, CHAPTER 17 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 14, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/17?9 

Meditation on Matthew 17:9-13. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved December 14, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/12/14/1151331/ 

Morse, E. (2024, December 14). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Retrieved December 14, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/121424.html 

Psalms, PSALM 80. (2024, December 14). USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/80?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Expanding Our Images of God: Weekly Summary. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 14, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/expanding-our-images-of-god-weekly-summary/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Elijah Must First Come. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 14, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=dec14 

Sirach, CHAPTER 48 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 14, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/sirach/48?1