Third Sunday of Advent

Brothers & Sisters!

Today is the third Sunday of Advent, and today we wear pink! Well…rose. But why this color? This color symbolizes joy and the anticipation of joy! And why joy?

As we see in today’s gospel, St . John the Baptist is gaining followers because of the hope he is preaching of. This hope is not just hope in an idea or in an event - but it is hope in a PERSON. That person is the Christ, the Messiah, Emmanuel, Jesus, your lover, my lover, our bridegroom...

The gospel reading tells us that St John the Baptist’s followers were “filled with expectation,” to the point of questioning whether the great Baptizer is actually the Christ. They, much like us, are having their hearts prepared for the coming of their Savior, and it is a joyful restlessness. However, what does St. John the Baptist say?

“I will baptize you with water…He will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire…”

Woah. Water sounds much more pleasant than fire. How can someone feel joy when they are being immersed in fire? Doesn’t fire burn and hurt? We turn to our brothers and sisters in Purgatory for that answer.

Purgatory is seen is a place of anticipation. A place of purification. A place where after a soul leaves Earth and is not yet ready to meet God face to face in the heavenly banquet, is purified in a way often depicted as through fire. Fire is painful, yes, but there is great joy during this purification because at the end of it, comes eternity with God. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. There is hope. That hope is a person. And that person was born as a baby in a broken world, laid down in a manger, and has humbled Himself so that we may know His gentle gaze.

So, let us take a page out of this eternal reality, and be not afraid of the purification that comes with the Messiah’s arrival. But rather, sing out with joy, for being immersed in the fire and the Spirit will conform us to His image and bring us closer to welcoming, with our whole heart, the Savior we have all been waiting for! O come, O come, Emmanuel!

- Justin Kozma, CLM Coordinator