be kind, be honest, work hard - 3rd Sunday advent C 2015

How do we prepare for the coming of the Lord?  John’s answer is not complicated.  In fact it is so simple it consist only of three things.  Three things to do to prepare for the coming of the Lord, three things to do to prepare for judgement.  First, be kind.  Second, be honest.  And third, work hard, do honest work. 

First, be kind, if you have two cloaks share the other one with the person who has none.  If you have food, share this with those who have none.  Be kind.

Second be honest – stop collecting more than what is prescribed.  In all things be honest, be truthful.

And third, work hard, work decently for your keep.  Do not accuse falsely in order to extort.  Do not be a bully to others in order to gain.  Work hard and work decently.

For such an important event, John kept it simple.  These may not be big deal but imagine a country where our leaders are kind, where all are honest, and where everyone embrace an honest to goodness work ethic?  Or imagine a police force that puts premium on kindness, honesty and hard work.  Things would be different I believe.  It is not as if these things do not matter or a little simplistic.  No, in fact the values taught by John the Baptist in our gospel today corresponds to a recent survey on parents about the values they want to teach their children or values they want their children taught – they want to teach them honesty, kindness and a strong work ethic.

The point which John the Baptist is trying to make is this – the coming of Jesus affects every dimension of our life, even the most simple, and especially the most basic, and that includes how we regard each other and that includes our obligation to one another.  It is in the simple acts of sharing what we have, in being honest in our dealings with one another, and in doing our part by working hard.

Today is Gaudete Sunday.  We are asked to rejoice.  God commands us to rejoice – to rejoice in the Lord.  It is said - Beauty is given but happiness is a choice.  How we look - that’s it, we just have to learn to love how we look because that is a given.  So don’t blame yourself if you look ugly.  But happiness is always the result of our choices.  It is the end result when we choose to be “in the Lord” in our choices in life.  It is the end product of what we make of ourselves given the opportunities that surrounds us.  In a country that seeks solutions in violence, we can choose to be kind and merciful.  In a country where dishonesty is a way of life, we can choose to be honest.  In a country that aims for the fast buck, we can choose to work honestly and work hard for what we earn.  We can only truly rejoice when we live and work in the presence of the Lord.