The Chaff He Will Burn With Unquenchable Fire: Reflections on the Readings for the Third Sunday of Advent, Cycle C

Also known as Gaudete Sunday from the beginning word for the introit in the Latin mass, Gaudete – rejoice. The Lord is near. We are approximately halfway on our journey to the joy of Christmas. In fact, the readings declare that the Lord is near, and even in our midst. For this reason the vestments for this mass are usually rose (some priests get upset when you call them pink), a color suitable for rejoicing.

The reading from the prophet Zephaniah starts off with cries of rejoicing. But what prompted this rejoicing from the Lord. The book of Zephaniah is relatively short, only 3 chapters long. Everything Zephaniah addresses up until today’s reading is about Israel and Judah turning away from the Lord and worshiping false gods. The false gods took over the lives of the Israelites, much as they do to us today until there is only a remnant to be saved. “Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them. On the day of the LORD’s wrath, in the fire of his passion, all the earth will be consumed.” This has an eerie comparison to today when we read about the decline in religious practice such that Pew Research predicts that somewhere in the next 30 years or so, unless there is a turnaround, less than half of the people in the US will be practicing Christians. It seems like we might already be on track to being just a remnant.

The admonition includes “It [Israel/Judah] listens to no voice, accepts no correction; In the LORD it has not trusted, nor drawn near to its God.” So why is Zephaniah appropriate for Advent? It is because of the selection we read today, which is preceded by God’s explanation, “But I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, who shall take refuge in the name of the LORD—the remnant of Israel. They shall do no wrong and speak no lies; Nor shall there be found in their mouths a deceitful tongue.”

This seems to reflect Jesus’s words about seeking the narrow gate: “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Mt 7:13-14

In other words, if we repent, follow the Lord’s teaching, and strive to be pure, then we will have ample reason to rejoice, for the Lord will remove His judgment on us and He will send us a Savior, who will be in our midst. Appropriate thoughts to meditate on as the priest consecrates the bread and wine and brings Jesus, our Savior, into our midst at mass. And, like Jesus the Good Shepherd, He will bring us home – not an earthly home but a spiritual one.

The responsorial expands on this theme, especially as we look forward to Jesus’s coming at Christmas: “Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.” Its explanation is clear and does not mince words: “God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior.” And it tells us not to hide the reason for our rejoicing, “Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement; let this be known throughout all the earth.”

It also comes with this reminder, “Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name; among the nations make known his deeds.” We do this not only with words, but with the way we live our lives. Again, researchers continually show that “people who are active in religious congregations tend to be happier and more civically engaged than either religiously unaffiliated adults or inactive members of religious groups.” What an example to show others. This is not a time to hide our faith.

St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians also tells us to rejoice. He also reminds us that the Lord is near. We should live without anxiety which sometimes seems to be a hard task in today’s world. But we have Christ’s peace. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27) We are in spiritual warfare and that calls us to find spiritual peace, the peace of Christ. The passage fittingly concludes with: “Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

In the gospel we return to John the Baptist preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. “He said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” At this point they ask him what they should do. He tells them to be honest, look out for others, and repent. His answer makes them think he might be the promised Messiah, the Christ, which he denies by saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire.” The passage ends with what seems to be the only cause for rejoicing in John’s words, “he preached good news to the people.” However, he does not leave them without the warning about what is to come if they do not follow his guidance and repent, “His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” John is telling us it is a time of choosing.

Think now of Jesus’s oft cited message about the coming of the kingdom (and his second coming) and why Advent is considered a time not only of rejoicing, but also of repentance. For example, “So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous, and throw them into the furnace of fire ...” (Matthew 13:49-50) As Scott Hahn notes, “Our repentance should spring not from our fear of coming wrath but from a joyful sense of the nearness of our saving God.”

Remember why Jesus came to mankind, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Go to confession. Take advantage of the opportunity Advent presents to renew and continue strengthening your spiritual muscles. Welcome Jesus and prepare to carry on His work of renewing our lives and the lives of mankind.