Third Sunday of Advent

Joy

John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." Even tax-collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."

As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 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."

So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

Luke 3:7-18

St. John the Baptist Preaching

RODIN, Auguste

1878

Musée Rodin

Paris, France

Early in his career, Auguste Rodin created life-size sculptures that were so realistic, his critics argued that he had modeled them using actual persons. To answer them, Rodin began working on a larger-than-life sculpture of John the Baptist.

In this work, intentionally shown in its setting in what was originally Rodin's house and workshop, John the Baptist seems alive, striding, giving a sense of active energy. Rodin accomplished this by modeling each leg in a separate position of rapid walking, so that the passion and energy of this herald of Christ springs forth. His outstretched hand and slightly opened mouth catch him in a moment of preaching the word of Christ's coming.

http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/diglib-fulldisplay.pl?SID=20121210444915771&code=ACT&RC=54190&Row=2

We are shaped by our thoughts;

we become what we think.

When the mind is pure,

joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.

~ Buddha

Joy increases as you give it,
and diminishes as you try to keep it for yourself.
In giving it, you will accumulate a deposit of joy
greater than you ever believed possible.

~ Norman Vincent Peale