“What Must We Do?”
3rd Sunday of Advent – C
Today is “Gaudete Sunday,” which in Latin, means REJOICE! In the gospel, when the people heard the message of repentance from John the Baptist, they had one question. The tax collectors, the soldiers and the people asked this question: “What must we do?”
We too, as we look at the (one hundred- and fourteen-years St. B) of being Church in Lebanon Junction, (one hundred and nine years (St. A), we must also ask this question: “What must we do?”
Yes, what must we do? What is it that the Lord wants us to do?
As we reflect on this, let us also remember that what we do flows from who we are. In other words, action flows from being. We need to think about who we are first, and then we will know what we must do.
The mission of the Church is to be a sign of salvation and to lead people to Jesus the Savior. So, we are called to be signs of salvation, and that we know who Jesus is, and that others can see Jesus in us.
And how do they see Jesus in us? The second reading tells us this: “There is no need to worry, but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God,
which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus.
When others see that in us, that we are a joyful, prayerful, and thankful people, then they will want us to bring them to church. They will want to know how to pray and how to be at peace. They will want to know who Jesus is and to seek forgiveness and healing.
Yes, when others see that this is who we are, then what we need to do will come naturally. God has called us to be His people and blessed us with the gift of faith. So, what must we do?
Let us be a blessing for others, so that as church, we will journey on with rejoicing and thanksgiving, and all along the way, prepare the way for the Lord!