Third Sunday of Advent

December 13, 2009

Zep 3:14-18; Is 12:2-3,4,5-6;
Phil 4:4-7; Lk 3:10-18

Witness to the Light

People – Christians or not – generally do not want to act as witnesses to crimes committed, even if they were at the scene of the crime. We have to believe in the honesty of a witness. One reason why few are willing to become witnesses is the fear of lack of security and it becomes burdensome as well as bothersome to act as witnesses. Very busy people find giving witness disturbing and takes much of their time. What is happening at this time is that witnessing endangers one’s life.

Since we are Christians, and I supposed we were all confirmed, we should be courageous enough to give witness to Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.

We should try to imitate the witnessing shown by St. John the Baptist who appeared ascetical but had time to be a messenger of the Light. He knew the importance of living a poor man’s life. Like St. John the Baptist, we should also lead a life of courage. We should not fear to denounce evil. We should come holding the light of Faith so that we can drive away the darkness of sin and unbelief. Remember the courage of St. John the Baptist in frankly confronting the adulterous woman that she had no right to be the wife of Herod because she was already married to Philip.

He, St. John the Baptist, supported the truth that he was not the messiah, not Elijah. He was just a simple man, a kind of slave, yet he had one foot on the Old Testament and another foot on the New Testament. He can claim another name as footbridge – connecting God as the Father, and mankind as God’s children – sons and daughters.

A word of warning here – that we are Christians and are catholics. We are not Adventists – either 7th Day Adventists or Latter Day Saints – neither are we Witnesses of Jehovah. Therefore, we stand as witnesses of the Historical Jesus, whose birthday is fast approaching. We stand as witnesses wherever we are: at home or at work, in school or at play but especially at the Liturgical Celebration at Mass – the Eucharist being the King of the Seven Sacraments. Thanks to God we go through the Misa de Gallo like making a Novena to prepare more our hearts and minds for Christmas.

We acknowledge the lights of the stars, of the sun and the moon, and the lights produced by hydro-electric generators, but we profess our Living Christian Faith that Jesus is the true Light of the world who can penetrate our hearts and minds, yes, even our souls , when we take Him into a Human Crib within our Whole Humanity. We possess the Divine; and the Divine possesses us. We are the happiest of all creatures of creation.

Fr. Dominador Fernandez, SVD
Asst. Campus Minister, DWCV