Project BLACK MAMBA: Third Sunday of Advent

'Tis the Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday: Advent-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Gaudete.

Scripture of the Week
Mass Readings—Third Sunday of Advent
The Book of Isaiah, chapter sixty-one, verses one, two(a), ten & eleven;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verses forty-six, forty-seven, & forty-eight; forty-nine & fifty; & fifty-three & fifty-four;
The First Letter to the Thessalonians, chapter five, verses sixteen thru twenty-four;
The Gospel according to John, chapter one, verses nineteen thru twenty-eight.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today's Gospel presents John the Baptist as the messenger preparing the way for Jesus. John speaks: "I am 'the voice of one crying out in the desert, make straight the way of the Lord.'" He is saying that his job is to prepare for the mighty coming of the Lord. He is to build the highway that will facilitate his arrival. A change is coming, a revolution is on the way, a disaster [the destruction of the old] is about to happen. Prepare the way of the Lord.

And what is the manner of preparation? It is a baptism of repentance. Baptism—an immersion in water—reminded first-century Jews of the exodus, passing through the Red Sea, leaving the ways of slavery behind. God would humble the powers of their time as he once humbled Egypt & Babylon.

And repentance? It simply means going beyond the mind that you have. How our minds are conditioned by the fallen world! How our expectations are shaped, stunted by what has gone before. It's time, John is saying, for a new mind, a new set of eyes, a new kind of expectation.

Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Video reflection by Jeff Cavins: Encountering the Word.

Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D.: Breaking the Bread.

Mass Journal: Week 51
Reflection by Matthew Kelly, founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute:

The early Church was unstoppable, & as far as I can tell, it was because they followed this simple strategy. They believed that the values & principles of the Gospel were the best way to live. They nurtured friendships. They were deeply committed to a life of prayer. They were courageous in telling their story. They were generous & welcoming. Friendship is the original model of evangelization, & it is the the model that will triumph in the modern context. Friendship establishes trust & mutual respect, which together bring about the openness & acceptance that give birth to vulnerable dialogue. Only then can we begin addressing the questions that every human heart longs to answer: Who am I? Where did I come from? What am I here for? How do I do it? Where am I going? Friendship is the key to evangelization.

Otherwise, 17 December would be the festival of Saint Lazarus of Bethany (floruit first century; A.K.A. of the Four Days, the Resurrected), a personal friend of Jesus: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Brother of Ss. Martha & Mary of Bethany [29 July].

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Judicaël, Religious (circa 590-658, also spelt Judhael, etc.), king of Domnonée: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Sturmi of Fulda, Priest & Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 705-779, also spelt Sturm), the "Apostle of the Saxons," founder of the Abbey of Fulda: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Abbey.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint John of Matha, Priest, O.SS.T. (circa 1160-1213), co-founder of the Trinitarians, formally the Order of the Most Holy Trinity & of the Captives: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link.

Saint Quote o' the Day
From "Heroes' Words" in 54-Day Basic Training in Holiness by Father Richard Heilman:

"If you wold rise, shun luxury, for luxury lowers & degrades."
—St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church (13 September)