He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to those who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.

The gospel reading for the 3rd Sunday of Advent summons us to identify and prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ as demonstrated by John the baptiser. The gospel reading summons us to proclaim, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon us” in assurance of deep hope, joy and love beyond the present world. Advent witness under the conviction of personal calling to the light of Jesus Christ is not an easy nor popular ministry but can be very painful but very rewarding.

Advent witness is not just a seasonal liturgical performance or observance but a call to a way of life. Using the motto of the Boys Scout, Advent calls us to be prepared all the time for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Advent witness is a call and vocation to make Christ known by all means to the whole world. To identify with John the baptiser, Advent witness reminds us of how the Second Coming of Jesus Christ ‘calls us to live and calls us to be – to witness to our God who moves about this world feeling everything we feel and who promises to come alongside us, …’

As we long for eternal life beyond this temporal earth, Advent calls us to see ourselves in John the baptiser. Humanly speaking, Advent in such a time when people are trapped in poverty and hunger, disease and dislocation, violence and war limits our happiness. The Psalm for today provides the Good news and source of our abiding joy in the Coming of Jesus. Advent is a ‘mystery of suffering turned to joy,’ and this resonates with verse 6 of Psalm 126, “Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy.”  Advent prepares us for a time when the seeds of our sorrow will end up with shouts of joy.

Beyond the litany of our past and present troubles, Advent witness warns us against seeking joy in the wrong place and in the wrong ways. Using the words of Talitha Arnold, Advent joy “… is no jingle-bells joy brought with a swipe of a credit card,” The seed of Advent abiding joy “… have been planted in sadness and watered with tears. This is the honest joy that often comes only after weeping has tarried the night.” Advent calls us to be a voice and witness in the wilderness of our community, church, and nation. Advent summons us never to forget that just as John the baptiser was more than a wild man, we are called to be counter-cultural, a voice and witness against the religion of consumerism. The truth is that, today, the greatest opposition to the gospel is in the church hence, Advent-Watch calls for church repentance and renewal as agent of light in the midst of darkness. Advent calls us to open the way for Jesus like John, though the world may not understand us.

Prayer: O Lord, help me to prepare the soil of my soul, so that the seed of God’s word can take root in me and put down deep and strong roots.