| Homily
for the 3rd Sunday of Advent: December 17, 2006
Given by the Most
Reverend Stephen E. Blaire at the Cathedral of the Annunciation
in Stockton.
Entering into the Third Sunday of Advent we
know that the Lord Jesus will be coming soon in the celebration
of Christmas. What we do not know is when the Lord Jesus will
be coming again to call us into eternal life.
John the Baptist has reminded us that in the
coming of Christ He will baptize us in the Holy Spirit and
fire. That means that in the celebration of Christmas we are
purified by the Lord’s coming. We are made holy if we
are prepared to receive Him in this great feast of the Church.
John further asserts rather strongly that the One Who is to
come will gather the wheat into the barn and burn the chaff.
At the end of time there will be a great separation when Christ
comes again. We certainly want to be the wheat.
What must we do to be gathered into the barn
of the heavenly kingdom? This is the most important question
we can ask during the season of Advent. It is the question
asked of John the Baptist. “What should we do?”
No matter who you are: the crowd, a tax collector,
a soldier, a restaurant worker, a truck driver, a government
official, a sales clerk, a teacher, no matter who you are
or what your occupation is, the answer from John the Baptist
is for all. BE GENEROUS. BE HONEST. BE TRUE.
Advent is the time to prepare for Christ
who comes now and at the end in glory, including His coming
in the hour of our death. Now is a time to put our lives in
order. Advent is a time to be generous. Advent is a time to
be honest, through and through. Advent is a time to be truthful,
with no deceit and no guile found within us. Advent is the
time to live as we want to live all the time. Now is the hour
of salvation. The Lord indeed is coming and we should be prepared.
Last Update February 28, 2007
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