Advent 3 (year C)- Luke 3:7-20

The Gospel for the Third Sunday in Advent is Luke 3:7-20. This is one of the Advent readings which speaks of the preparatory ministry of John the Baptist. This particular passage gives a good bit of detail about John's message. As the last of the Hebrew prophets before the Messiah, John the Baptist strongly proclaims the message of repentance as a major part of preparing for the Redeemer. John also preaches forgiveness and grace for the repentant, but the first step is awareness of and sorrow for sin. Without repentance, ideas of forgiveness are hollow.

Unfortunately, modern Christians often try to avoid the first step. The world and the worldly church want forgiveness and grace without repentance. So John the Baptist is a reminder of proper preparation for Christ's forgiving grace. Christians are still called to repent and also to be messengers of repentance, forgiveness, and grace. Even though Christ has accomplished His saving work, His work must continue to be applied to human lives over and over. Advent asks us to share in John's preparatory work. In ways appropriate to our vocations and situations, each of us should repent, accept divine grace, and apply John's message to our own lives and to the lives of those around us.