In the Gospel for this Sunday, the third week of advent, we hear about the powerful proclamation of John the Baptist the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets.

“I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke3:16)

In the Gospel reading last week we heard how John called people to repentance meaning a complete change of heart. We hear in this Gospel people asking what must they do. Share with those in need says John and he tells the tax collectors and soldiers to be honest and just in their dealings with others and be content with what they have.

People were so impressed by John’s teaching that they thought John might be the Christ but John tells them no. I baptise you with water but the one who is coming will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.

John shed a light on the way many were living. The greed of the tax collectors and the cruelty of the Roman soldiers. They recognised the truth of what John was saying.

To be close to God means to be happy. They were not happy. They were faced with a decision. John’s baptism was a sign of a repentant heart and a new beginning; they were washed clean.

But John was preparing them for the arrival of Jesus. Advent is a time of preparation for the birthday of Jesus which changed everything.

Jesus by his death and Resurrection opens the way for a new life in the Holy Spirit for those baptised in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

What can we do to be closer to God this Advent? An Advent gift to those in need through an agency such as CAFOD perhaps? To be kinder, more gentle with those around us? To forgive anyone we have not yet forgiven?

Peace on earth and goodwill to all is a fitting way to describe the Christmas message.  

What must WE do?

“A voice cries in the wilderness: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley will be filled in, every mountain and hill be made low.”

These words from Isaiah are part of this Sunday’s Gospel and describe the mission of John the Baptist, the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets. Luke 3:1-6

John proclaimed “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

The Gospel opens with the historian gospel writer Luke, outlining the political situation at the time of Jesus.

Jesus lived at a particular time in a particular geographic area in a particular social and political setting.

But was Jesus not only a real historical figure but the Son of God? This is the all important and key question?

If Jesus was a good and wise man who cared for the poor and those looked down upon in his day; a man who did amazing things, then we can move on with our lives. There have been many such people.

But if Jesus was the Christ, the anointed sent by God as Saviour of humankind, whose birthday we celebrate at Christmas, then this changes everything for the world for all time and is totally life changing for each person individually.

Understanding what Jesus said and did while on earth is essential, indispensable and crucial for our lives. Namely the gospel teaching, healing and other miracles, and the death of Jesus on the cross and above all his Resurrection from the dead.

God has a plan for our eternal destiny, that we should be with him forever.

It all starts with repentance as John the Baptist taught. Metanoia – a complete change of heart; becoming who we are truly meant to be in God’s sight; the Father’s plan for us since the beginning of time and from our mother’s womb.  

Dear Jesus may I see more clearly who you really are this Christmas and in so doing discover who I am.

Amen

Advent comes from the Latin word Adventus meaning coming or arrival.

The arrival of a Saviour has been predicted over millennia. Much can be found in the Old Testament especially in the book of Isaiah (7.14).

Fantastic, unbelievable. This is the story of Christmas; that God our Creator sent to earth a Saviour Jesus who would totally change everything for all time.

This is worth celebrating and Advent also reminds us of the second coming of Jesus which is what this Sunday gospel is all about.

“Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and stand with confidence before the Son of Man.”  (Luke 21 :36)

This is not what the shops or media tell us – or the endless back to back American films on TV all of which have the same template for the Christmas story most without Christ.

Peace and goodwill on earth are hard won as is also peace within ourselves. Only Jesus can deliver and we need to turn to him for our hope to be realised. It cannot happen without a Saviour.

God sends his only begotten Son to bring new life to all.

A time of preparation, a new beginning starting again, a way forward.

It starts with peace offered to all.  

Who or what is king in your life – what is most important to you;

money, power, a person, entertainment idol?

For Christians, Jesus is King. This is what Catholics celebrated this Sunday and what the readings at Mass were about.

Pilate asks Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Jesus replies, “Yes I am a king. I was born for this, I came into the world for this: to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.” (John 18:37)

Jesus wants to be king of our lives. What does this mean? It means having Jesus as first our lives. – our relationships, our work and study, our family, our friends.  

Do we ever stop and ask when faced with a decision big or small, “what would Jesus do?”

Many may shy away from asking this question because we go it alone. Or perhaps we know little about Jesus or about his life portrayed in the gospels?

For catholic Catholics, welcoming Jesus in the readings at Mass and in Holy Communion is paramount.   

This is why there are so many who throughout the history of the Church have sacrificed their lives and many have died in horrific circumstances to celebrate Holy Mass.

To be true to Christ the King, everything and everyone must take a back seat or we cannot be who we really are and what God has called us to be for others. This is the path to true happiness right now and in eternity which is forever and for which this life is a preparation. In baptism Christians become prophet, priest and king with Christ; called to build that city of love, the Kingdom of God.

Our real life in the Kingdom of God in heaven is more wonderful than words can express and all that may prevent us from our final destiny is to be discarded as rubbish.

Pope Francis had a message for young people at the World Youth Day in Krakow in 2026. “(Jesus) wants to enter your homes, to dwell in your daily lives: in your studies, your first years of work, your friendships and affections, your hopes and dreams.”

________________________________________________________________________________

Will the world last forever or will it come to an end and if so, when?

Jesus speaks of the end of the world in the gospel this Sunday and in doing so, his second coming;

“They will see the son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory; then too he will send the angels to gather his chosen from the four winds, from the ends of the world to the ends of heaven.”

Mark 13: 16-27

Jesus gives the example of the fig tree which comes to life in spring to tell the disciples about the importance of seeing the signs of the times.

But Jesus concludes that only the Father knows the day and the hour.  

However, it is much more certain that we will see Jesus on our last day rather than in a catastrophe when “the powers in the heavens will be shaken.”

We have no idea when our last day will be. When we are young we think we will live forever but as we age and see those we know killed in road accidents or dying with cancer we know how fragile life really is. When we wake up in the morning we have no certainty that we will see our bed in the evening.

So we must seize the moment – but how? By fulfilling God’s loving plan for our lives which in essence means to grow to know, love, and serve God.

God is love and we should become like him – to be people of faith – faith in Jesus; faith in who Jesus is and why he came. To see the world through the eyes of faith is to appreciate what a wonderful gift this life is – a life which is meant to be a preparation for eternity.

Let us begin with this present moment.

Dear Jesus, please be my guide, my inspiration, my way to the Father.

In this Sunday’s Gospel we hear;

“This poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury; for they have put in money they had over, but she from the little she had has put in everything she possessed.”(Mark 12: 43 -44)

Jesus had been watching those contributing the Temple treasury and gave an important teaching about what he observed.

What message is here for us? What does it tell us about the woman’s faith? Surely trust. She had faith in a loving God. She didn’t have to worry about tomorrow. God will take care of her. Her faith meant everything. God is number is one in her life.

What or who do we put first in our life? What would we give up?

This is Remembrance Sunday. Young men gave up their lives. But also did those who refused to fight and suffered terribly as a result, especially in the first world war.

This gospel and about trust and sacrifice, not just money, but time and effort for what we believe?  

How can we make a difference to others? What will it take?

Dear Jesus everything I have is a gift. Help me to be generous?

Amen

What do we live by?

In the gospel reading for this Sunday, (Mark 12: 28 – 34) one of the Jewish leaders, a scribe, asks Jesus which is the most important commandment that we should live by. Jesus replies with the answer the scribe knew well.

“Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the one Lord, and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You must love your neighbour as yourself.”

This commandment is part of a traditional Jewish prayer called the Shema and goes deeper than observing laws. You can’t love someone you don’t know so it’s about having a relationship with God.

Loving God is bound up with loving your neighbour.

How is it possible to love God while hating and mistreating others who are sons and daughters of God?  Here we are reminded of the parable of the Good Samaritan which is about loving even foreigners.

Parents love their children and would do anything for them so when a mother or father sees one of their children harmed they grieve and feel it in their hearts and emotions. Think of the harm done to children by on line abuse for example and how this affects the parents.

Jesus called God Abba or Dad. God is our big Dad.

Wherever war takes place, it is sons and daughters of God who are killed. In the parable of the last judgement (Matthew 25. 40) we read about how we should treat others whatever their needs may be; “in so far as you did it to one of the least of these bothers of mine, you did it to me.”

If everyone lived by the great commandment, the world would be completely different.

Dear Lord, may I spread your peace

It’s so easy not to notice or listen to people calling out for help, especially those on the margins of what might be thought of as “normal” living. Parents of children in poverty and those forced to use food banks, the homeless, those suffering domestic abuse, prisoners crammed into tiny cells with no chance of rehabilitation. And there are those with no voice – unborn babies, children with unaddressed special needs, old people and those with terminal illness in need of adequate care, migrants in search of a new life.

Often those off radar are told to ‘be quiet’ or ‘it’s your fault’ or ‘not yet, be patient.’

This is essentially what this Sunday gospel is about. Blind Bartimaeus calling out, “Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.” Mark 10:46. The crowds following Jesus ignore him and tell him to keep quiet. His plight in their eyes was due to his or his family’s sin.

But Jesus notices and everyone is obliged to stop while Jesus reaches out to the man and heals him with the words. “Go your faith has saved you.”

God loves everyone equally and all are called to do likewise. Yet we have to see, to hear and take notice. The light of Christ has come into the world and in this light we can reach out to others.   

Dear Jesus help me to notice those in need; may I have the courage and determination to help where I can and may I have the faith of Bartimaeus and call out to you when I need you most.            

In the Gospel for this Sunday which is also “World Mission Day in the Catholic Church, we hear something quite startling. James and John who along with Peter were the inner circle among Jesus’ apostles, ask Jesus for a favour. They ask if they can sit on either side of him in his glory. Jesus replies that they do not know what they are asking and that such places are, “not mine to grant.”

The other apostles are understandably quite indignant about this.

Jesus calls the apostles to him and turns leadership on its head. They must not be like the rulers among the pagans and lord it over everyone. Greatness is about being servants and Jesus adds, “The Son of Man himself did not to come to be served but to serve.”

The heart of the matter

What is most important is our motivation, our inner life – the kind of person we are, our soul.

Would we dare to aspire to be the kind of servant leader Jesus was and which led him to the cross?

This challenge to be a servant leader is for each of us and also those who govern.

Perhaps one of the greatest Englishmen to accept this challenge was Thomas More who became Lord Chancellor in 1529 in the reign of King Henry VIII but was executed in 1535. He resigned when King Henry declared himself supreme head of the Church in England which enabled him to divorce his wife Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn.

There are many similar examples of heroes who have forfeited their lives as servant leaders. No doubt we have our own examples.

Each day we are called to serve – our families, those we work with, friends and neighbours and society-  in one way or another. Many are martyrs by what they take on each day.

This Gospel is indeed a challenge for us all and if it was commonplace for individuals and world leaders to be servant leaders, the world would be very different.  

Before Thomas More was executed he proclaimed, “I die the Kings good servant but God’s first.”

How can we have eternal life? For those who believe in God, this is the key question. We cannot earn eternal life by good deeds as a right. We cannot achieve that state of life or righteousness which is necessary to be acceptable to God. We are just not good enough and never will be.

Eternal life is a free gift won by Christ, Son of God who died on the cross for us.

Yet by the grace of God we can grow more like Him so that we become recognisable as His children.

In the gospel read at Sunday Mass this week we read, “Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17) A rich man kneels before Jesus – what he should do? He recognised the importance of this fundamental life question as a practicing Jew.

Jesus lists the commandments. “You must not kill; You must not commit adultery; You must not steal; You must not bring false witness; You must not defraud; Honour your father and your mother.” (v19)

The man says he has always kept all these. We read Jesus “loved him.” and urges him to give all he has to the poor and follow him. But the man goes away sad because he cannot be parted from his wealth. The man could have become a regular follower of Jesus!  

The apostles are shocked when Jesus tells them that is very hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. For the Jews, wealth was a sign of doing well in God’s sight. So they asked one another, Who can be saved?” (v26) So Jesus then adds, “everything is possible for God.” (v27)  

What about us, Peter says. We’ve left everything? Jesus then gives them the well known teaching about the hundred fold. They will be repaid a hundred times over but, “not without persecutions now in this present time and in the world to come, eternal life.” (V 30)

This Gospel teaching is focussed upon one particular man who is dominated by his riches and perhaps lacks concern for those in need. There is nothing wrong with having possessions if we see ourselves as caretakers for what we have. The really important thing is that God occupies first place in our lives so that His love can shine through us through all we do.

We can give the time and energy to work for justice and peace. Meeting the needs or others in poverty goes beyond charity to challenging injustice in society and the world. In so doing we can fulfil God’s plan for us and by means of his grace and attain to eternal life which is the reason we are here.

So we do this not to earn eternal life by our own efforts but to live the love of God who is love.

Eternal life begins in the here and now.