scripture witness to the worthy onechristmas decoration lining walkways and rooftops. invite...

© 2014 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, http://www.MorehouseEducation.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

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Question of the WeekHow has God chosen me to bring good news, heal and set people free?

Helps for Catechists◆ More about Today’s Scriptures◆ Reflection◆ The Scriptures and the Catechism◆ Faith Formation and the Arts, Part 3◆ The World of the Bible: The Jews

Enrichment ◆ Welcome the Good News◆ Singing Together◆ Story-Review Race (baton)◆ Jesse Tree Poster (tape or tacks, collage

materials such as fabric and paper scraps, yarn, trim, etc.; optional: biblical picture books)

◆ Christmas Crafts (muslin or newsprint, red and green paint, shallow pans, cardboard tubes, tissue paper, ribbon, blank address labels, tiny gifts such as jingle bells or pennies)

◆ Info: Where You’ll Find Everything Else

Core Session ◆ Getting Started◆ Gospel Story: Who Is John?◆ Let There Be Light (paper

bags, scissors, sand, candles)◆ Praying Together (matches,

Advent wreath and candles)

We look to the dawning of God’s light.◆ John the Baptist announces that Jesus is God’s light for the world.◆ With children we focus on the person of John the Baptist by telling the story of his birth,

together with his Advent message that the One is coming.◆ In today’s session we explore the stories and the seasonal themes through crafts, games and

stories.

Witness to the Worthy One

ScriptureJohn 1:6-8, 19-28

3 rd Sunday o f A d ven t – B

Living the Good News | Primary | 3rd Sunday of Advent – B

http://www.MorehouseEducation.org

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Getting Started (5-10 minutes)Children guess a “secret identity” in this variation of Twenty Questions.

Invite children to make a list of people, real or imaginary, for this game, for example: ◆ characters in books, TV shows or movies◆ athletes

List all suggestions on the board or newsprint. Ask a child to pick the first “secret identity” by following these directions:◆ Pick a name from the list.◆ Don’t tell the name to anyone but me. (Child tells

you the name so you can offer assistance during game.)

The other children then try to guess the identity by asking questions that can be answered with a “yes,” “no” or “maybe.” Examples:◆ Are you a boy?◆ Are you on a TV show?

Children can ask 10 questions (or more, if time allows) to try and guess who the person is. Invite them to then listen to a story where people a long time ago also wondered who someone was.

Gospel Story (5-10 minutes)Who Is John?Before the session print today’s Gospel Story, attached to this document. You may want to print extra copies to send home.

Begin by briefly summarizing last week’s story:◆ You may remember that an angel told Zechariah

that he and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a baby boy named John.

◆ They’re told that the baby will bring joy to many people and that he’ll ask people to get ready for God’s son, Jesus.

◆ Listen to a story about what happened next—about his birth and what kind of a person he became.

You or a volunteer may read the gospel story aloud as children follow along. Alternately, or in addition to, you may wish to read aloud John 1:19-28.

Afterward, ask:◆ What do you think it could mean to make the road

or path straight for God? ◆ How can we do that today?

Let There Be Light (10-15 minutes)Read aloud John 1:6-8. Ask:◆ When do we need light most?◆ Why might John describe Jesus as “the light”?◆ How or where would you like Jesus to be a light in

your life?

Explain that in the southwestern U.S. and in Mexico, a luminaria (illuminated paper bag) is a common Christmas decoration lining walkways and rooftops.

Invite children to create luminarias by drawing and cutting out patterns in the sides of bags. Suggest patterns that symbolize the light Jesus brings at Christmas, for example, a star, sun or candle. Note: Don’t cut near the bottom 2" of the bags.

Pour 1" of sand in the bottom of each bag. Place a candle in the middle. Set luminarias aside for prayer.

Praying Together (5 minutes)Gather around the Advent wreath and four pillar candles in Advent colors. Light three candles. If desired, you may also help children light the luminarias. Say:◆ The luminarias remind us that Jesus is our light,

showing us the way in a dark world. ◆ Our Advent wreath reminds us that we’re waiting

for Christmas and for Jesus. ◆ While we’re waiting, what would you like to say to

Jesus today?

Close by praying aloud:◆ Dear God, we want to be ready for Jesus, both at

Christmas and in the future. Show us what to do. We’re young, and we need your light to show us the way to go as we grow up. Thank you for loving us. Come to us, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Note: If you use At Home with the Good News, distribute this week’s paper to the children before they leave, or e-mail it to their parents after the session.



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Welcome the Good News (10-15 minutes)On page 1 of today’s Welcome the Good News, children will find an illustrated version of the gospel story.

In Welcome God’s Word on page 2, children can consider the meaning of and remaining days of Advent. Children will also find a With Your Family activity they can lead at home or practice in the group.

Singing Together (10-15 minutes)From Singing the Good News, sing together:◆ “Light Your Lamp” (songbook p. 14)◆ “Prepare the Way” (songbook p. 16, also available as

an MP3)◆ “Christmas Dreams” (songbook p. 18, also available

as an MP3)

Note: To access both the songbook and its attached MP3 files, open your Winter-B Seasonal Resources folder, then click on Singing the Good News.

You might also teach an Advent hymn, such as “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” attached to this document.

Story-Review Race (10-15 minutes)Children review facts about John the Baptist in this question-and-answer relay race. If your space doesn’t have enough room for participants to run, consider using a hallway, if appropriate, or taking the game outside. If neither of these is feasible, adapt the game for inside play by asking children to walk quickly, to skip or some combination thereof (rather than to run), from one end of the room and back.

Review facts about John the Baptist from today’s and the previous session. Examples:◆ John was the son of Elizabeth and Zechariah.◆ He told people to get ready for God.◆ He wore funny clothes and ate strange food.◆ He compared Jesus to light.

Ask participants to form a line. Explain:◆ Each of you will take a turn as John the Baptist.◆ I’ll ask the first person in line, “Who’re you?” and

hand that person a baton.◆ This individual is the first John and must answer by

telling something about him, for example, “I’m the son of Elizabeth and Zechariah.”

Other examples:◆ I’m someone who walks in the wilderness.◆ I’m a voice announcing that Jesus is coming.◆ After giving an answer, that individual runs, walks

or skips to the designated place, and then back again, handing the baton to the next person in line, asking the next John, “Who’re you?”

You may find that, depending on how many children play, participants run out of facts about John. Encourage them to use their imagination and come up with ideas they believe might describe John, though not specifically stated. Examples:◆ Besides locusts and wild honey, I also eat birds,

rabbits and berries, and I drink from streams.◆ Sometimes I’m lonely, because people think I’m

rather strange, so they don’t hang out with me.

It may be fun to time the relay to see how quickly children can give an answer, run their leg of the race and get back to the line. Repeat the game if they want to improve their time.

Jesse Tree Poster (10-15 minutes)Play Kimberly Braun’s “O Antiphons.” (Open your Winter-B Seasonal Resources folder, then click on Companion Music for options on obtaining this music.)

See the session for the 1st Sunday in Advent for background information about the Jesse Tree. If your group has not already done so, you may wish to incorporate the scaled-down version of the tradition using the poster attached to this document.

We recommend that you continue to provide picture books from the local library of Old Testament people and stories for children to explore. Each week we suggest a title, but you may find others. Make these, together with children’s versions of the Bible, available in a reading corner near the Jesse Tree poster.

If time allows, you may wish to read one or more books to the children.

This week we recommend two versions of the Noah story. You can find others, as this theme is a favorite of children’s book writers.◆ Noah’s Ark, retold and illustrated by Nonny

Hogrogian (New York: Knopf, 1986). The spare text captures the essence and style of the biblical version, right down to the genealogies. The delicate



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illustrations include a complete diagram of the ark and its possible arrangements.

◆ Noah’s Ark, illuminated by Isabelle Brent (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1992). You could read the story, quoted as extracts from the Revised English Bible, or simply use the pictures to encourage children to tell the story themselves. The exquisite pictures, embellished with gold leaf, glow with medieval pattern and color.

Christmas Crafts (20-25 minutes)Daniele’s HandimalsChildren make crafts they can give as Christmas gifts.

Use your computer and online access to display a sampling of artist Guido Daniele’s astonishing hand paintings, available at http://www.guidodaniele.com/hand-painting/art. Explain that this Italian artist transforms human hands into animals in this amazing body painting. Make sure everyone realizes that these images are painted on actual hands!

Invite initial responses to the painting. If necessary, select questions from the article First Impressions (found in your Winter-B Seasonal Resources folder, in the Seasonal Articles folder) to help group members get started. Invite them to discuss the animals they see. Explain that today, they’ll use their hands to make art, too.

Gift Wrap:Children make gift wrap, a useful gift for their families. Put ¼" tempera paint in a shallow pan, such as a pie plate. Allow one pan of red or green paint for every 3-4 children. To make gift wrap, children dip their hands in the paint and make handprints on lengths of muslin or newsprint.

Before the session make copies of the following note to send home with decorated cloth gift wrap: Wrapping gifts in cloth is a time-honored way to conserve paper. Such gift wrap, secured by tape, yarn or ribbons, can be used over and over. Enjoy your child’s creation!

Christmas Crackers:In English households, each person receives a Christmas cracker by his or her plate. Traditional crackers open with a small “bang!” to reveal a paper hat, a tiny gift and a fortune or joke.

These crackers lack the traditional noise-making capability, but children can create a similar experience by filling cardboard tubes with one or more tiny gifts, such as nuts-in-the-shell, pennies, jingle bells, etc. Older children may want to include scripture verses written on slips of paper, or handwritten notes to the family. They can also add paper hats or crowns, if desired.

Complete the crackers by wrapping them in tissue paper, sealing with a sticker and tying the ends off with ribbon. Children can make homemade stickers using felt pens or crayons to decorate blank address labels.

Where You’ll Find Everything Else

◆ Attached to this Session Plan you will find:— Backgrounds and reflections for today’s

readings, titled More about Today’s Scriptures.— A printable version of today’s Gospel Story: Who Is

John?— Printable lyrics to O Come, O Come Emmanuel.— An optional activity, Wooden Crèche Figures.— An optional information piece titled To Parents,

which helps families draw nearer to God as Christmas approaches.

— A Jesse Tree Poster to use in the activity of the same name.

◆ Open your Winter-B Seasonal Resources folder, then click on Seasonal Articles to find:— Information on Winter-B’s Models of the Faith.— A printable article titled First Impressions, which

offers practical helps for the use of fine art in the classroom.

— For catechists and/or families, a helpful Advent Overview.

— For catechists and/or families, a helpful Christmas Overview.

— Two articles for catechists and/or families by Roger Hutchison titled Tapping into the Power of Art and Faith Formation and the Arts.

— For catechists and/or families, an article with more on John the Baptist.


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More about Today’s ScripturesToday’s readings sparkle with the light of God’s approaching deliverance. According to the prophet Isaiah, healing and deliverance draw near, bringing the dawn of a new day. In anticipation of this coming light, Paul exhorts believers to persist in holiness, confident that God alone will sanctify them. In today’s gospel, John the Baptist announces the coming of Jesus, the true light in the midst of all our darkness.

Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11The prophet speaks a message of hope to those returning from exile in Babylon. The prophet describes an ultimate year of jubilee—a time of full blessing brought by divine favor. The blessing is accompanied

by a day of vindication that will bring full restitution for injustice. Thus the prophet looks back to the Mosaic ordinance regarding the jubilee year and forward to the day of the Lord.

In verses 10-11, the prophet assumes the voice of Zion, the kingdom of God. Zion

revels in the new life given it by God. This new life is described first as a wedding celebration—an occasion of joyful union—and then as a time of planting and new growth—an event full of divine initiative. Both images bespeak mystery and delight. In the same way, God will bring about a new life of justice and praise.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 Today’s reading comes from the earliest New Testament writing, written probably about AD 50–51. Paul has dealt with several questions relating to the expectation of Jesus’ imminent return (5:1). He closes his letter by reminding the Thessalonians that a strong and loving community life, not speculation and anxiety, is the proper environment for awaiting the Lord. God desires that their lives be characterized by joy, prayer and thanksgiving.

The Thessalonian Christians are to welcome the charismatic gifts, but with discernment. In speaking of spirit, soul and body, Paul does not intend to divide the human person into separate components. Rather, in Hebraic style, he describes the human person in the

threefold components of relation to God, of present vitality and of physical body. God both wills and works the sanctification of the total person.

John 1:6-8, 19-28 All of the gospels portray John the Baptist as the forerunner of Jesus. John’s gospel emphasizes the Baptist’s role as a witnesses to Jesus as the light that was to appear on the day of salvation. The evangelist John usually uses the term the Jews not to refer to Jews in general but to refer specifically to those who live in Judea or follow Judean practices. They are for him the stereotype for those who oppose Jesus, especially the religious authorities who rejected his claims.

The people of Jesus’ time had a variety of expecta-tions about the appearance of one or more figures who would bring the current age to an end. The most common hope centered on the coming of a political messiah who would be a member of the royal line of King David. Elijah was also expected as a herald. There was also a hope for the revival of prophecy by a prophet-like-Moses.

When questioned, John the Baptist rejects all of these identifications. He is only “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness” (v. 23; Isaiah 40:3). Likewise, the baptism that he practices points away from himself. It is only a preparation for the One already present but as yet undisclosed.

ReflectionIn days of large egos, few want to be the herald; everyone wants center stage. John the Baptist is a fine corrective. How puzzling he must have seemed to those eager to establish his identity, lock him into a familiar role. Elijah they could understand.

The Messiah would be even better—and might let them in on some personal perks. But this self-effacing prophet escapes any niche they could slot him into. He can voice only the longing for one to follow; he can do only his small piece to straighten the path.

If we spent some time reflecting on him, John could probably teach us the vulnerability of one who admits, “I don’t have all the answers.” Most of us would be so flattered to be mistaken for Elijah or the Messiah, we’d prolong the falsity and soak up the acclaim. There is an honest relief about John: he won’t delude anyone, even if it means losing an upgrade in his status.

“To be a witness does not consist in engaging in propaganda or even stirring people up, but in being a living mystery. It means to live in such a way that one’s life would not make sense if God did not exist.”

—Dorothy Day


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What do we respond when asked, “Who are you?” Do we roll out the list of accomplishments, try to impress with credentials and career? Or do we admit we’re often confused and find our identity in another, who creates and saves?

The Scriptures and the CatechismToday we rejoice because, like the Jewish exiles, the time for God’s coming draws nearer. We prepare the way by building a community of right relationships (CCC, #1807, 1886–89, 2401–25) that is based on justice, held together by bonds of love, creating peace for all (CCC, #2443–49). This community will contrast with humanly devised communities that are founded on unjust dominations of one group over another, held in place by violence that always results in conflict for all.

Faith Formation and the Arts, Part 3 by Roger W. HutchisonWashing Dishes and The Language of the HeartIt is late afternoon under a crisp blue French sky, and I am covered head to toe in water and soap bubbles. In order for everyone at Taizé to be fed, we volunteer to help out in the open-air kitchen.

The sea of voices rises up like a symphony, instruments that I do not recognize, yet long to understand and know. I hear sounds of laughter and joy—so much unrestrained laughter and joy. I recognize some faces: I see Hillary and Tom, a young woman and a young man that traveled with me to Taizé, France from Trinity Cathedral. Tom, the young man that saw God’s face clearly for the first time as he looked into the PAINted face of the crucified Jesus on an icon located in the community church.

Hillary, the young woman who feels in her heart that she will never be the same person she was before this journey. She, too, saw God’s face in the diversity of the people around her and in the glimmer of the candlelight as it danced across hand-painted icons.

I do not know some faces, but have seen them before. When I was young, I used to pour over my Grand-mother’s copies of National Geographic. I would look for hours at the pictures of the nearly blue-black faces of strikingly beautiful African men and women. As I gaze across the way, it is as if the picture in the magazine had come to life. That beautiful black face.

Those dark and deep eyes. That bright encompassing smile.

Then I glance across to the faces of my new friends Adrian and Olgutsa. They are boyfriend and girlfriend who traveled to this small village from Romania, seeking the face of God. They too, communicate with laughter, broken English and their eyes. Where is Romania? Where is Cameroon? Now I know. These masterfully orchestrated creations of God are com-municating with each other across water…no longer separated by the ocean, we communicate over a basin of dishwater. It is a more honest and more sincere form of conversation than I have ever experienced. It is not with our voices for we speak different languages. It is with our eyes and our laughter. We are speaking the language of the heart as we wash dishes.

I look down into the basin of dishwater and at the reflection of the faces of my new friends. The dancing water and the shifting light have caused our faces to become one. I, too, have discovered the face of God.

The World of the BibleThe JewsIn John’s gospel, the term Jews (Greek, Ioudaios) does not usually refer to Jews in general (who would be called Israelites) but identifies those Israelites who live in the specific geographical area of Judea, which was the southern portion of Palestine in Roman times (thus distinguished from Samaria, Galilee, Perea and Idumea). This region was the ancestral homeland of the tribe and later the kingdom of Judah under King David. It included the holy city of Jerusalem.

Thus the term Jew identified any Israelite, whether in Judea or elsewhere, who followed Judean customs and practices. For this reason, it might be much better to always translate the word Ioudaious as “Judean.” Similarly, Ioudaismos or “Judaism,” means the customs and behaviors of Judeans not all Jews.

For John, the Jews or Judeans function as the literary and religious stereotype of those who oppose Jesus and reject his claims, especially (as in this reading) pointing to the religious leaders.


Winter • Year B

©2014 by Morehouse education resources • all rights reserved • www.livingthegoodnews.coM • 1-800-242-1918Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

PR-WB-AD03-DL-A-O Come, O Come Emmanuel

"O Come, O Come Emmanuel"

O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear.

Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

O Come, thou Wisdom from on high, Who orderest all things mightily; To us the path of knowledge show, And teach us in her ways to go.

O come, o come, thou Lord of might, Who to they tribes on Sinai’s height In ancient times didst give the law, In cloud, and majesty, and awe.

O come, thou Branch of Jesse’s tree, Free them from Satan’s tyranny That trust thy mighty power to save, And give them vic’try o’er the grave.

O come, thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heav’nly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery.

O come, thou Dayspring from on high, And cheer us by thy drawing nigh; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadow put to flight.

O come, Desire of nations, bind In one the hearts of humankind; Bid thou our sad divisions cease, And be thyself our King of Peace.

Play “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” for the children. (Open your Winter-B Seasonal Resources folder, the click on Companion Music for options on obtaining this music.) Invite children to follow along as the music plays. The words are printed below:

Winter • Year B


Gospel Story:Who Is John?

After nine months, the baby was born. “What’s his name?” friends and neighbors asked.

“John,” said his mother, Elizabeth.

“John?” said the neighbors. “That can’t be right! No one in the family is named John.”

The neighbors turned to Zechariah, who hadn’t been able to say a single word since the angel’s visit. “Zechariah, what’s the baby’s real name?”

Zechariah made signs with his hands. “I think he wants something to write with,” someone said.

Elizabeth brought a slate on which Zechariah wrote, “It’s true, his name is John.”

Suddenly, Zechariah realized he could speak—and sing! So right there, he sang to his newborn baby:

“You, my child, will be God’s prophet. You’ll get the road ready for the Lord!”

The neighbors were confused. They whispered to one another, “What’s he talking about?”

The years passed and John became a man. He walked in the wilderness and countryside, talking to people, telling them to change the way they lived to get ready for Jesus, and baptizing them.

People were very curious about this strange man. They went to John and asked, “Who are you? Are you a prophet? Why do you baptize?”

“I’m no prophet. I’m just a voice, shouting in the desert, ‘Make the road straight for God to travel!’ I baptize with water, but Someone, who’s coming soon, well, I’m not even good enough to take off his shoes!”

“Is God really coming?” the people asked.

“Oh yes,” said John. “Prepare yourselves and keep watch; God’s coming to all of us!”

PR-WB-AD03-DL-C-Gospel Story_Who Is John

Abraham

Miriam

Sarah

JesseTree

Noah

Adam & Eve

Mary & Joseph Ruth David

Moses

Living the Good News: Jesse Tree Poster

NoahGod told Noah, “Build an ark. It will rain for forty days and forty nights.”

AbrahamGod promised Abraham, “You will have as many children as there are stars in the sky.”

Moses God sent Moses to Egypt, where God’s people were slaves. Moses led God’s people to freedom.

Miriam Miriam played the tambourine and danced. She sang, “I will sing to the Lord.”

Ruth Ruth traveled with Naomi to the town of Bethlehem. “Your God will be my God,” Ruth said.

David David was a shepherd boy. He played the harp and sang, “Hallelujah!”

Mary & Joseph Mary said to the angel, “Yes, I will be the mother of Jesus.” Joseph helped Mary care for Jesus.

Adam & EveGod made Adam and Eve. God gave them a garden for their home.

Sarah Sarah made bread for three holy visitors. God promised, “Sarah will have a special baby.”

Abraham

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Living the Good News: Jesse Tree Poster

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Today’s readings sparkle with the light of God’s approaching deliverance. According to Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11, salvation glows like a torch flaring in darkness and like dawn breaking the night. In anticipation of this coming light, I Thessalonians

5:16-24 exhorts believers to persist in holiness, confident that God alone will sanctify them. In John 1:6-8, 19-28, John the Baptist announces the coming of Jesus, the true light in the midst of darkness.

Preschool/Kindergarten children heard more about

John the Baptist and explored the holiday themes

of babies and gifts. The session included reviewing

Advent with a calendar and rhyme, talking about

babies and playing a story-review game. Music, free

play with creche materials, a gift wrap activity and

prayer rounded out the children’s time together.

Primary (Grades 1-3) children heard the story of

John the Baptist’s birth and today’s gospel describing

his ministry. The children played a guessing game,

painted a mural and ran a relay race. They also shared

picture books at the Jesse Tree center and made

Christmas crackers.

Intermediate (Grades 4-6) participants continued

their study of John the Baptist’s role in preparing for

Jesus. Group members prepared a dramatic reading

of today’s gospel, then discussed its meaning. They

also made treasure maps showing ways God comes

to them. Participants brainstormed prayers patterned

on traditional Jewish blessings, then used these in the

closing prayer.

Third Sunday of Advent • Year B

For the feast of Our Lady of

Guadalupe tomorrow, make roses

from colored tissue paper or crepe

paper. As you work, tell the story

of the wondrous lady’s appearance

to Juan Diego.

In days of large egos, few want to be the herald; everyone wants center stage. John the Baptist is a fine corrective. How puzzling he must have seemed to those eager to establish his identity, lock him into a familiar role. Elijah they could understand. The Messiah would be even better—and might let them in on some personal perks. But this self-effacing prophet escapes any niche they could slot him into. He can voice only the longing for one to follow; he can do only his small piece to straighten the path.

If we spent some time reflecting on him, John could probably teach us the

vulnerability of one who admits, “I don’t have all the answers.” Most of us would be so flattered to be mistaken for Elijah or the Messiah, we’d prolong the falsity and soak up the acclaim. There is an honest relief about John: he won’t delude anyone, even if it means losing an upgrade in his status.

What do we respond when asked, “Who are you?” Do we roll out the list of accomplishments, try to impress with credentials and career? Or do we admit we’re often confused and find our identity in another, who creates and saves?

The reading from Thessalonians tells us to “rejoice always.” Invite each family member to name one thing in which they rejoice.

Advent is a good time to celebrate feasts such as St. Lucy’s this week. Traditionally,

the youngest daughter wears a crown of candles and brings breakfast rolls to her family.

Could you adapt this Swedish custom to fit your own setting?

How has God chosen me to bring good news, heal and set people free?

© 2014 Morehouse Education Resources. All rights reserved. www.livingthegoodnews.com • 1-800-242-1918 • Permission is hereby granted to reproduce these pages for use in the purchasing congregation only.

Winter • Year B


More about Today’s Scriptures3rd Sunday of Advent

00-WB-AD03-SB-C-More about Today_s Scriptures

Today’s readings sparkle with the light of God’s approaching deliverance. According to the prophet Isaiah, healing and deliverance draw near, bringing the dawn of a new day. In an-ticipation of this coming light, Paul exhorts believers to persist in holiness, confident that God alone will sanctify them. In today’s gospel, John the Baptist announces the coming of Jesus, the true light in the midst of all our darkness.

Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11

The prophet speaks a message of hope to those returning from exile in Babylon. The prophet

describes an ultimate year of jubilee—a time of full blessing brought by divine favor. The blessing is accompanied by a day of vindication that will bring full restitution for injustice. Thus the

prophet looks back to the Mosaic ordinance regarding the jubilee year and forward to the day of the Lord.

In verses 10-11, the prophet assumes the voice of Zion, the kingdom of God. Zion revels in the new life given it by God. This new life is described first as a wedding celebration—an occasion of joyful union—and then as a time of planting and new growth—an event full of divine initiative. Both images bespeak mystery and delight. In the same way, God will bring about a new life of justice and praise.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Today’s reading comes from the earliest New Testament writing, written probably about AD 50–51. Paul has dealt with several questions relating to the expectation of Jesus’ imminent return (5:1). He closes his letter by reminding the Thessalonians that a strong and loving community life, not speculation and anxiety, is the proper environment for awaiting the Lord. God desires that their lives be characterized by joy, prayer and thanksgiving.

The Thessalonian Christians are to welcome the charismatic gifts, but with discernment. In speaking of spirit, soul and body, Paul does not intend to divide the human person into separate components. Rather, in Hebraic style, he describes the human person in the threefold components of relation to God, of present vitality and of physical body. God both wills and works the sanctification of the total person.

John 1:6-8, 19-28

All of the gospels portray John the Baptist as the forerunner of Jesus. John’s Gospel emphasizes the Baptist’s role as a witnesses to Jesus as the light that was to appear on the day of salvation. The evangelist John usually uses the term the Jews not to refer to Jews in general but to refer specifically to those who live in Judea or follow Judean practices. They are for him the stereotype for those who oppose Jesus, especially the religious authorities who rejected his claims.

The people of Jesus’ time had a variety of ex-pectations about the appearance of one or more figures who would bring the current age to an end. The most common hope centered on the coming of a political messiah who would

“To be a witness does not consist in engaging in propaganda or even stirring people up, but in being a living mystery. It means to live in such a way that one’s life would not make sense if God did not exist.”

—Dorothy Day

Winter • Year B


be a member of the royal line of King David. Elijah was also expected as a herald. There was also a hope for the revival of prophecy by a prophet-like-Moses.

When questioned, John the Baptist rejects all of these identifications. He is only “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness” (v. 23; Isaiah 40:3). Likewise, the baptism that he practices points away from himself. It is only a preparation for the One already present but as yet undisclosed.

ReflectionIn days of large egos, few want to be the herald; everyone wants center stage. John the Baptist is a fine corrective. How puzzling he must have seemed to those eager to establish his identity, lock him into a familiar role. Elijah they could understand.

The Messiah would be even better—and might let them in on some personal perks. But this self-effacing prophet escapes any niche they could slot him into. He can voice only the longing for one to follow; he can do only his small piece to straighten the path.

If we spent some time reflecting on him, John could probably teach us the vulnerability of one who admits, “I don’t have all the answers.” Most of us would be so flattered to be mistaken for Elijah or the Messiah, we’d prolong the falsity and soak up the acclaim. There is an honest relief about John: he won’t delude anyone, even if it means losing an upgrade in his status.

What do we respond when asked, “Who are you?” Do we roll out the list of accomplish-ments, try to impress with credentials and career? Or do we admit we’re often confused and find our identity in another, who creates and saves?

More about Today’s Scriptures3rd Sunday of Advent

Winter • Year B


Today your child heard the story of the birth of John the Baptist. As a grown man, John pre-pared people for the coming of God in Jesus Christ (Luke 1:57-66; John 1:19-28).

As the days draw closer to Christmas, we long to be sure that our preparations draw us nearer to God. Would any of these activities satisfy your family’s longings?

❉❉ Ask someone who’s recently divorced or widowed to a simple family celebration that you usually have without guests.

❉❉ Volunteer to serve, as a family, at a church or community soup kitchen.

❉❉ Donate part of the family’s gift budget to an organization that buys new toys or necessities for needy children or families.

To Parents

PR-WB-AD03-DL-A-To Parents

Winter • Year B


PR-WB-AD03-DL-A-Wooden Creche Figures

Materials: twigs, branches, fabric scraps, glue, craft saws or whittling tools

Children begin making a Crèche set from natural materials.

Explain that many Christians still enjoy remembering the birth of Jesus by displaying a Crèche: a model of the stable with figures from the Christmas story. Invite children to brain-storm figures that can be included, for example:

❉❉ Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, shepherds, 3 kings, etc.

❉❉ Sheep, donkeys, cows, horses, chickens, doves, etc.

Provide craft materials and invite them to work together to make Crèche figures. If desired, an ongoing work center can be set up throughout the season of Advent.

Note: Provide sharp tools only with close supervision. One option is ask an adult volunteer to be the whittler while younger members dress the crafted figures.

Wooden Crèche Figures

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