“Marching forward with a deep conviction and prayer: ‘Lord, I belong to You, and to You alone!'”

(Based on Zep 3:14-18a, Phil 4:4-7 and Lk 3:10-18 – 3rd Sunday of Advent)

A youngster was laid-off…
… after the company decided to part ways with him.

Despite having good performances, the young man fell culprit…
… at the hands of jealous
workmates and nepostitic influences.

However, nothing deterred this young Christian.

On being asked how he felt at this unjust treatment, he cooly replied:

People can make any number of accusations
People can put me down as much as they want
But, I know who I am!”

And he added, “Everyday I look to the Lord and inspired by St Francis de Sales, I tell Him, ‘Lord, I belong to You, and to You alone!”

When we have a deep conviction that our being draws it’s origin and strength from the Lord…
… we are able to live with conviction and joy.

Today, as Christians – who live in a society, that tends to move away from the Gospel virtues – we are challenged and demanded by our Blessed Lord:
“Are you willing to stand up for me?”

But we often find ourselves lost, and ask the Lord, “What shall we do?”

The Gospel of the Day throws light on this aspect – “What shall we do?”

We are on the third Sunday of the Season of Advent.

This is called the Gaudete Sunday – the Sunday of Joy.

We are more than halfway through the season in preparation for Christ.

Sometimes, like runners, in a marathon…
… we may feel tired of this preparation
… or we may think, when is the destination going to reach?

And so we may get wearied… tired… or feel exhausted.

But the Church, our caring Mother, knows Her children, and tells us…
“Just a few more days… and it will be Christmas!

Do not give up hope… Instead, continue to prepare…
In joy… in happiness… in expectancy…”

Thus, this Third Sunday of Advent, we celebrate as Gaudete (= Rejoice, in Latin) Sunday.

On this Joyful Sunday, “What shall we do?” is the constant refrain that we encounter in the Gospel.

The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What then shall we do?” (Lk 3:10)

The tax-collectors asked John the Baptist, “Teacher, what shall we do?” (Lk 3:12)
The soldiers asked John the Baptist, “And we, what shall we do?” (Lk 3:14)

This then is what we also ask our Blessed Lord, as we come before Him, this 3rd Sunday of Advent – “What shall we do?”

And both – John the Baptist, the fore-runner and Jesus, the Messiah – are telling us:
“Repent of your sins”
… especially those to whom you have been clinging on for a long time

“Depend more on God’s Power”
… especially to many of us, who rely more on our own power and strength

“Take the Word of God more seriously
… especially by picking up the Bible more often, reading, meditating and living more in It

“Be more faithful to the Church”
… especially in times when there is a lot of criticism of the Church and there is a demand for loyalty and passion from the members themselves.

“Receive the Sacraments more frequently”
… especially to grow deeper in the love of God and become a God’s mighty witnesses in a world that often challenges the faith and dilutes the Gospel values

The Gospel makes an amazing presentation of John the Baptist, who lived with much conviction and passion.

A deep conviction of “who he was” guided all the actions of John the Baptist.

Do I possess such kind of a deep and “anchored” conviction in my Christian Life?

When we are anchored in the Lord, we can “stand up for Jesus” amid any difficulties and worries of life!

Yes, let us keep on cleansing our hearts so that our Blessed Lord can be born in us!

On this Gaudete Sunday (“Rejoice Sunday”), let us give heed to the call of St John the Baptist and the love of Jesus…
… so that our preparation for Christmas, may truly become more meaningful and more worthy!

St Paul reminds and exhorts us, “The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all…” (cf. Phil 4:5,6)

Let us march forward…
… with faith and love
… through the valleys and mountains
… and wilderness and oasis
… through these days of the Season of Advent, preparing for the Coming of Jesus

With a deep conviction and prayer: “Lord, I belong to You, and to You alone!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The First Commandment

The only perfect sacrifice is the one that Christ offered on the cross…
… as a total offering to the Father’s love and for our salvation.

By uniting ourselves with his sacrifice we can make our lives a sacrifice to God. (CCC # 2100)