Dec. 12th - Third Sunday of Advent

(Zep 3:14-18a ; Phil 4:4-7; Lk 3:10-18)

These are anxious times. There are uncertain developments in the world at large, in our local community, and in many of our personal lives. It was also anxious times for the people in Philippi that Paul addressed in today's second reading. It was a new faith community living under Roman rule and Paul was in a Roman prison. In the midst of all of this, Paul says to have no anxiety at all. He gives the formula for achieving this serenity. “In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God”. He says by doing this the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds. Anxiety comes from assuming too much responsibility or things outside of our control. The peace of God comes from turning over in prayer those things that are beyond our control and trusting in God's love to take care of those things, even when we are not sure what that means. These days we can all use more of God's peace guarding our hearts and minds, so let us take Paul's advice to the Philippians to heart.

• A common practice in team building is the trust exercise where one person is put in a vulnerable position (such as falling backwards or walking blind) and must depend on another for support (such as catching or guiding the vulnerable one). Discuss how a life of faith can be seen as a trust exercise between you and God. Try to find real examples when trusting in God so completely is possible and helpful in dealing with life's uncertainties.
• What is your experience with the “peace of God the surpasses all understanding?” Have you had trouble turning over to God some part of your life that caused you anxiety?
• In today's Gospel we see John the Baptist at the peak of his popularity with people from all walks of life coming to him for advice on how they should behave. With so many people hanging on his every word, how do you suppose John avoided giving in to the temptation to think that maybe he might be the promised one of God?