为主的到来准备妥当

将临期第三主日

根据梅瑟法律，失去土地且被迫服役的以色列农民，每五十年就可能重获土地（参阅肋25:10）。公元前586年，以色列失去土地，被迫流亡。五十年后，在居鲁士（公元前538年）的诏令下他们可以返回家园，并重获土地。在今日的读经一中，充满喜乐的依撒依亚宣告这一恩宠之年。看似不可能的事情逐渐变得可能：恩许之地将再度兴旺起来。“他们要重建古时的废址，兴建往日的荒域，建造倾圮的城邑，数代荒凉的地方”（依61:4）。

在今天的福音中，洗者若翰也唤醒了一个生活在罗马帝国之沉重枷锁下的民族对默西亚充满希望。他如同梅瑟，把百姓带到旷野，又如若苏厄，在约旦河里给他们授洗，还像先知，呼吁他们悔改归向主。这个民族几乎500年来没有经历过这样的事情。随着最后三位先知——哈该、匝加利亚和玛拉基亚的死亡，天主“沉默了”。但其中一位先知在其著作中写了关于厄里亚要在主的日子来临前出现的应许（拉3:23）。

最后，在读经二中，保禄准备得撒洛尼人迎接基督的再来。这个准备包括具体的建议，总共有八个。前三个与基于信仰的生活方式有关：常常喜乐，不断祈祷，事事感谢。接下来的三个与圣神相联系：不要消灭神恩，禁止轻视先知之恩和分辨神恩。最后两个呼应圣经中约伯的形象。得撒洛尼人应该像他一样（参阅约1:1），坚持良善，避免邪恶。这些忠告以后是保禄的祈祷，他求天主圣化他们，保持他们在基督来临时整个人毫无瑕疵。

为了他使命的座右铭，若翰引用了依撒依亚先知的话，我们在前一个主日听到的。他在被人群给与他的任何角色中，不论是默西亚、厄里亚，还是先知，都没有找到自己的。他是为准备这个即将来临的圣言的“声音”。他呼吁人进入旷野，并将其余的事情留给道成肉身的那一位。若翰引导每个人去关注祂的到来。“你们中间站着一位，是你们所不认识的”（若1:26）。认识若翰之后要来的，且由救主亲自启示的这一位，是多么重要！“永生就是：认识你，唯一的真天主，和你所派遣来的耶稣基督”（若17:3）。

今日的圣道礼仪为主的来临准备地方。有些人需要若翰所宣布的祂的第一次来临，另有些人期待保禄笔下的祂的第二次来临。而在我们中间，已有复活的主，由圣神傅油，身穿救恩的衣裳和正义的外衣（依61:1、10）。然而，许多人却不认识祂，另有许多人已经离弃了祂，还有许多人已经习惯了犯罪，以至于无法想象圣洁的生活。正式为了这些人，依撒依亚宣告恩慈时刻即将到来，他们可以在耶稣基督内重塑他们被毁的生命。另一方面，已经经历了这个恩慈时刻的我们，要听取保禄的建议。感谢天主赐予的救恩，并求祂圣洁我们整个的人，而且保守我们“在主耶稣基督来临时无可指摘”。阿们！

Prepared for the coming of the Lord

The Readings:

Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11; Psalm: Luke 1:46-50.53-54 (Isaiah 61:10b); 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

According to the Law of Moses, Israelite farmers who lost their land and were forced into servitude could regain their land every fifty years (see Lev 25:10). In 586 BC, Israel lost its land and was forced into exile. Fifty years later, after the edict of Cyrus (538 BC), they could return and regain their land. In today’s first reading Isaiah – filled with joy – announces this year of grace. What seemed impossible is going to become possible: the promised land shall flourish again. “The shall rebuild the ancient ruins, raise up the desolations of old, renew the ruined cities, places devastated for generations” (Is 61:4).

John the Baptist also awakened the messianic hopes of a nation living under the heavy yoke of the Roman empire. Like Moses, he led the people out into the desert, like Joshua baptizing them in the waters of the Jordan, and like the prophets he called them to conversion. The nation had not experienced such a thing for almost 500 years. With the death of the last three prophets, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi – God ‘went silent’. But one of them included in his writings the promise about Elijah to precede the coming of the Lord’s day (Malachi 3:23).

Finally, Paul prepares the Thessalonians for the second coming of Christ. This preparation includes specific advice – there are a total of eight of them. The first three relate to the lifestyle that flows from faith: constant joy, prayer without ceasing, and thanksgiving in every life situation. The next three are connected with the Holy Spirit: the prohibition of “extinguishing” the Holy Spirit, the prohibition of disregarding the prophecy and the call to discernment. Finally, the last two evoke the image of biblical Job. Like him (see Job 1: 1), the Thessalonians should hold on to good and avoid evil. These counsel end with the apostle praying that God would complete their sanctity and keep them without blemish at the coming of Christ.

For the motto of his mission, John chose a quote from Isaiah, which we heard on the previous Sunday of Advent. He did not see himself in any of the roles ‘assigned’ to him by the crowds, whether the messiah or Elijah or the prophet. He was the “voice” that preceded the Word. He called the people into the desert, and left the rest to the Incarnate Word. Towards His coming John is directing everyone’s attention. “Among you is one whom you do not know” (John 1:26). How important is to know the One who comes after the Baptist has been revealed by the Savior Himself. “This is eternal life, that all may know You, the only true God and the One whom You sent – JESUS ​​CHRIST” (John 17: 3).

The Liturgy of the Word prepares the world for the coming of the Lord. Some need the first one proclaimed by John, others await the second one, of which Paul wrote. Among us is the resurrected Lord, anointed with the Spirit, dressed in the garments of salvation and the mantle of justice (Isaiah 61: 1, 10). Many, however, do not know Him, many have turned away from Him, and many have become so accustomed to sin that they can not imagine a life of holiness. It is for them that Isaiah proclaims the coming of the time of mercy, the possibility of reconstructing their ruined life in Jesus Christ. On the other hand, we who have already experienced this time of mercy, listen to Paul’s advice. Thanking God for the grace of salvation, we ask Him to complete our holiness and keep us “without blemish at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Amen.