Third Sunday of Advent - C December 17, 2006

Zepehniah 3: 14-18a Philippians 4:4-7 Luke 3: 101-18

I am confused - not because of some recent occurrences in my life. I am confused when I have discussions with persons whose presence I miss when celebrating the Eucharist. I ask myself the question: Why is that person not present? In response I often hear something along the line that the person believes in God, often even prays to God, put just does not see the point of coming to church.

I am confused as I wonder what the basis is for the answer I receive. One easy reply is that he or she is too busy. There are too many activities going on because of work, or social life or other things. I find this to be somewhat of a strange answer because, for the most part, the liturgies are scheduled to accommodate a variety of schedules. Another answer, I suspect, comes from simple laziness. It is an easy answer. Perhaps this is the result of a lack of motivation either at home or with respect to friends.

A third answer, I believe, arises from misunderstanding. In this case, the misunderstanding can have a basis in history. Over the centuries, for example, the Church has often been identified with the government, the State. It has taken the Church a long time to grow past this attitude. Beginning as far back as Constantine the Great in the 3^rd century up until Vatican II less than 50 years ago, the association of Church and State was present. It was only recently that the independence or identification of the Church with the State was recognized as beneficial to the Church. The Church was led to this understanding almost kicking and screaming, in many ways influenced by the thought and reflection of an American, Cardinal Avery Dulles.

Another historical reference to this way of thinking may well be what is known as the Enlightenment. This philosophical development of a number of centuries ago, with its emphasis on the individual, was very influential. It was embraced in many aspects of the thinking of other Christian churches and sects, and in the development of the United States. But this line of thinking can very easily miss the idea that we are, as human, most clearly revealed to one another in relationships, not as individuals alone. These relationships are with others and with God as creator.

I am confused because I firmly believe, and this belief was recently reinforced, that God is not only revealed to us but also is most greatly experienced by us through living and acting out our faith in God and in Jesus Christ with others and not alone, with the experience of a community or group of believers joined together with a loving God. The best experience or the best response which we can have to living out and experiencing our faith and in being renewed, refreshed and reinforced in that faith comes from being together in worship and prayer. We can then go forth from this worship and prayer to live out that faith and all of its effects as experienced in ourselves and in the examples and lives shown to us by others.

As we listen to John the Baptist today, we hear the questions addressed to him about how the experience of conversion can be lived out in daily life. John makes it clear that the faith life is not to be distinguished from daily life. He uses two examples: tax collectors and soldiers, two of the most despised groups in society of that time. He tells them that the lessons learned can be applied to living out their faith in their daily lives. If this is so for them, how much more is it true for anyone who listens and seeks to respond to the message that is proclaimed.

We have also listened to the prophet Zepehniah and to Paul a leading teacher of the Gospel message. We hear that what gives evidence of faith to ourselves and to others is joy, singing and exaltation. These are actions which can be especially experienced with others in the common activity of worship. We also hear that prayer, petition and thanksgiving, that is, some of the basic activities of a community at worship, indicate the faith of those who know that the Lord is near. There is no need for fear or anxiety about the closeness of the Lord. Believers can truly rejoice.

We all may be confused and readily lament the absence of those who are not here. But we must also look at ourselves who are here and at our own actions. We who are here must genuinely reflect the joy of knowing and believing that God is with us. We must take this knowledge and experience to the particular worlds in which we live. And we must extend the invitation at this season especially and also all year to others asking that they joining with us in joy, in prayer and in lived faith. We are all to join in the reality expressed in our belief that here, in ourselves and in the Eucharist we share, is found the real experience of our good and loving God.