{"id":5350,"date":"2024-12-15T09:04:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-15T09:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/?p=5350"},"modified":"2024-12-15T13:31:53","modified_gmt":"2024-12-15T13:31:53","slug":"commentary-on-the-3rd-sunday-of-advent-c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/commentary-on-the-3rd-sunday-of-advent-c\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary on the 3rd Sunday of Advent (C) 15.12.2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

TEXT \u2013 Luke 3: 10\u201318 \u00a0\u2013 \u201cWhat shall we do?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

The multitudes: \u201cWhat Shall We Do?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

10 And the multitudes asked him, \u201cWhat then shall we do?\u201d 11 And he answered them, \u201cHe who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n

Tax collectors: \u201cWhat Shall We Do?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, \u201cTeacher, what shall we do?\u201d 13 And he said to them, \u201cCollect no more than is appointed you.\u201d <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Soldiers: \u201cWhat Shall We Do?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

14 Soldiers also asked him, \u201cAnd we, what shall we do?\u201d And he said to them, \u201cRob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.<\/em><\/p>\n

John\u2019s Testimony<\/strong><\/p>\n

15 As the people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ, 16 John answered them all, \u201cI baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

He preached good news<\/strong><\/p>\n

18 So, with many other exhortations, he preached good news to the people. <\/em><\/p>\n

\n

EXPLANATION<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

10 And the multitudes asked him, \u201cWhat then shall we do?\u201d 11 And he answered them, \u201cHe who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the multitudes asked him<\/em>\u201d \u2014 It is the ordinary people, not the religious leaders (Lk. 7: 30), who are willing to repent and to do whatever might be necessary in practical ways. Added to \u201cthe multitudes<\/em>\u201d in the following verses are tax collectors and soldiers who also wish to change their life\u2013styles.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat then shall we do?<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This question occurs twice more in this passage and also in Luke 10: 25 and 18: 18. This makes it an important question.<\/p>\n

Those who are sincere in repentance will want to know what else they must do after repentance and the purification that was symbolised by John\u2019s baptism.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he answered them, \u201cHe who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 A theme in Luke\u2019s Gospel, where social justice is stressed, is sharing one\u2019s possessions with those who are without means. Here he points out that some people can have too much clothing and food. He is radical in his examples of how much to give. Zacchaeus understood this and was generous in his promise to share (Lk. 19: 8).<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, \u201cTeacher, what shall we do?\u201d 13 And he said to them, \u201cCollect no more than is appointed you.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cTax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, \u2018Teacher, what shall we do?\u2019 And he said to them, \u2018Collect no more than is appointed you\u2019<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Tax collectors paid the Romans for the right to collect the toll taxes for the empire. They were despised by both Jews and Gentiles, those who were not Jews. They were regarded as extortionists taking more money than they should.<\/p>\n

\n

14 Soldiers also asked him,<\/em><\/strong> \u201cAnd we, what shall we do?\u201d And he said to them, \u201cRob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cSoldiers also asked him <\/em>\u2018and we, what shall we do?\u2019 And he said to them, \u2018Rob no one by violence<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 These soldiers were more like security guards for the tax collectors. They used violence on those who had to pay taxes so that they might collect for themselves more than these had to pay.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018or by false accusations\u2019\u201d<\/em> \u2014 The soldiers would falsely accuse people of selling or exporting products and this would not be true.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018and be content with your wages\u2019\u201d<\/em> \u2014 The soldiers would charge more than they had to hand up and keep that extra for themselves. John tells them to be satisfied with the wages agreed upon.<\/p>\n

\n

15 As the people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAs the people were in expectation<\/em>\u201d \u2014 There was a great expectation that the Messiah was coming. Because of the Roman invasion, these expectations were for a political leader who would free Israel from the Romans and bring about an era of great worldly prosperity.<\/p>\n

\u201cand all men questioned in their hearts concerning John<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Luke mentions \u201call men<\/em>\u201d to indicate the universal expectation of the Messiah\u2019s imminent coming. He also mentions that this desire was \u201cin their hearts<\/em>\u201d, that is it was very important for them.<\/p>\n

\u201cwhether perhaps he were the Christ<\/em>\u201d \u2014 \u201cThe Christ<\/em>\u201d is the Greek word for Messiah, the Anointed One.<\/p>\n

\n

16 John answered them all, \u201cI baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cJohn answered them all<\/em>\u201d \u2014 As in the previous verse where Luke mentions that \u201call men<\/em>\u201d were expecting the Messiah, here he uses the same universal expression to indicate that John is telling everyone that (i) Jesus is greater than he is and that (ii) Jesus\u2019 baptism is greater.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018but he who is mightier than I is coming<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 This is the first point: the Christ is more powerful than John.<\/p>\n

\u201cthe thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Only servants were allowed perform this task. A rabbi\u2019s disciples were forbidden to untie his master\u2019s sandals as being too menial a task. John looked on untying Jesus\u2019 sandal straps as too great an honour for him. He saw himself as unworthy of this privilege. He was truly humble.<\/p>\n

\u201cI baptize you with water; \u2026 he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The Holy Spirit is a major theme in Luke\u2019s Gospel (Lk. 1: 15, 35, 41, 67; 2: 25\u201327; 3: 16, 22; 4: 1, 14, 18; 10: 21; 11: 13; 12: 10, 12). Luke portrays the Holy Spirit as God\u2019s special gift. He filled Jesus who exercised his personal ministry in the power of the Spirit. A major fruit of the Holy Spirit is joy, mentioned twenty\u2013seven times in Luke\u2019s Gospel. Jesus promised that his followers would be happy and blessed (Lk. 1: 45; 6: 20\u201322; 7: 23; 10: 23; 11: 27\u201328; 12: 37; 14: 14\u201316; 23: 29). This joy is not something outside the person but within because of his or her union with Christ.<\/p>\n

\u201cand with fire<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The Catechism of the Catholic Church<\/em> (art. 696) explains: \u201cWhile water signifies birth and the fruitfulness of life given in the Holy Spirit, fire symbolizes the transforming energy of the Holy Spirit\u2019s actions. [Examples] The prayer of the prophet Elijah, \u2018who arose like fire\u2019 and whose \u2018word burned like a torch,\u2019 brought down fire from heaven on the sacrifice on Mount Carmel. This event was a \u2018figure\u2019 of the fire of the Holy Spirit, who transforms what he touches. John the Baptist, who goes \u2018before [the Lord] in the spirit and power of Elijah,\u2019 proclaims Christ as the one who \u2018will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire\u2019. Jesus will say of the Spirit: \u2018I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled!\u2019 In the form of tongues \u2018as of fire,\u2019 the Holy Spirit rests on the disciples on the morning of Pentecost and fills them with himself. [End of examples] The spiritual tradition has retained this symbolism of fire as one of the most expressive images of the Holy Spirit\u2019s actions. \u2018Do not quench the Spirit.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cHis winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The Messiah is described as like a farmer who uses a large wooden shovel to throw the husks of wheat into the air where the breeze or wind allows the heavier grain fall to the ground and the chaff be blown away into heaps.<\/p>\n

The present tense is used in the first part of this verse to show that the Messiah is now judging the fruits of repentance of people.<\/p>\n

and to gather the wheat into his granary<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The farmer gathered the grain into his granary. This is an image of the Messiah gathering his elect into heaven.<\/p>\n

\u201cbut the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The chaff will be burned and the fire will be unquenchable. This is an image of the punishment of those who do not change their ways and so are unworthy of the kingdom of God.<\/p>\n

\n

18 So, with many other exhortations, he preached good news to the people. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

So, with many other exhortations, he preached good news to the people<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This is known as \u201ca summary statement\u201d. It allows Luke to indicate that there is a passage of time before the next section of his Gospel.<\/p>\n

\n

APPLICATION<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

1. The Gospel passage tells us that the people were very strong in their expectation of the coming of the Messiah, God\u2019s Anointed, the Christ. They even thought that John the Baptist might be the Messiah. John was embarrassed by this because his task was to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah. He explained three things about Christ.<\/p>\n

(i)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Messiah is \u201cmightier<\/em>\u201d, more powerful, than John. Indeed John felt that he could do nothing, no matter how menial, for the Messiah because he felt himself to be so unworthy to perform even the least privilege or honour. A practical question: Is my attitude one of humble service or \u2018bossy\u2019 (telling Jesus what to do)?<\/p>\n

(ii)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 John declared that his baptism was a mere symbol whereas the Messiah\u2019s baptism would be with the \u201cHoly Spirit and fire<\/em>\u201d. The Holy Spirit is divine and as fire transforms, so the Holy Spirit transforms those who are overwhelmed (\u2018baptised\u2019) by his presence which is conferred by the Messiah. A practical question: Do I allow the Holy Spirit transform my life?<\/p>\n

(iii)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Messiah will judge all the people of the world, rewarding or punishing as is their due. A practical question: Do I reflect on my eternal destiny?<\/p>\n

2. John the Baptist was so outstanding in his person and in his preaching, he drew crowds to follow him. His mission was to prepare them and direct them away from himself and towards Christ. That continues to be the mission of a Christian.<\/p>\n

3. As part of this mission he taught people to think of others. In the Gospel passage three groups approach the Baptist and ask \u201cWhat must we do?<\/em>\u201d This is the type of question anyone who is trying to please God and do his will, would ask. They were determined to repent and change their way of thinking and living to God\u2019s way. They queried what that would mean in practice. John told them to think of other people, those in need or those to whom they had been unjust. What he was saying was that the Messiah came for people; they too should have that mentality to help people.<\/p>\n

The second last verse in the passage tells us about the Last Judgement which we will undergo. It is not outlandish to think that what we do to prepare for Christmas, Christ\u2019s first coming, is indicative of how we are preparing for Christ\u2019s second coming at the Last Judgement. Are we \u2018converted\u2019, that is turned towards Christ now by transformed attitudes and perspectives from the world around us, a radical life\u2013change? How we receive Christ the Messiah here and now is how we will receive him at the Second Coming. As he preached preparation for the coming of Christ, John the Baptist emphasised the necessity of having God\u2019s values and way of thinking and living rather than the world\u2019s. To forget or ignore the spiritual is to forget or ignore the Messiah.<\/p>\n

Pope Benedict XVI said, \u201cWe with our faith, our hope and our charity, are called every day to see and bear witness to the presence of Christ, in a world often superficial and distracted, to make shine in our lives the light that illuminated the cave of Bethlehem\u201d. Should the question uppermost in our minds during these next less than two weeks before Christmas not be \u201cWhat must we do?\u201d Let us keep Christ present in our Christmas and celebrate with him.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TEXT \u2013 Luke 3: 10\u201318 \u00a0\u2013 \u201cWhat shall we do?\u201d The multitudes: \u201cWhat Shall We Do?\u201d 10 And the multitudes asked him, \u201cWhat then shall we do?\u201d 11 And he answered them, \u201cHe who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.\u201d Tax<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3185,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5350","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5350","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5350"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5350\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8318,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5350\/revisions\/8318"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3185"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5350"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5350"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5350"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}