THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Luke’s account of the preaching of John spells out the justice with which each group must prepare not so much for his baptism but for the Messiah who is to come (Luke 3:10-18). Zephaniah looks towards the renewal of Jerusalem after the Exile – this will be marked by the joy of the Lord as well as of the people (Zephaniah 3:14-18).St. Paul gives practical advice – to be full of joy, tolerance, calmness and prayer (Philippians 4:4-7).

For the first time in any Council of the Church, Dei Verbum presents three hermeneutical rules for the overall interpretation of the Scriptures. The first of these is to acknowledge that the Scriptures are written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and teach that inerrant truth for our salvation which God wished to be in the Scriptures (DV 11). The Church continues to preach the truth present in the Scriptures proclaimed.

Canon Mervyn Tower