Cycle C
Good News C3
Third Sunday in Advent
New American Bible
Luke 3:10-18
Bible
Gateway New International Version Luke 3:10-18
Share with Others
Enjoy living and doing for God. Share with others. If you look through your closet and find clothing that you haven’t worn in a couple of years, perhaps you can share these clothes with Goodwill, the Kidney Foundation, Crisis Ministry or other organizations that help people. When you go to the grocery store, buy a few extra canned goods to share with those who are hungry. God will make sure you have enough food and clothing for yourself and some left for others.
Take only what is yours. If an item is not yours, don’t touch it. Sometimes we are tempted to play with toys that are not ours. If you have permission and something breaks, it’s not too bad. If you don’t have permission, and a game breaks while you are playing with it, it is really bad news. Protect yourself. Take only what is yours.
If you see two people fighting, don’t say, he started it, it’s his fault. Get all the facts. Listen to both people. Figure out what will solve the problem. Try to solve it so the two boys don’t lose their tempers again.
If you seem to be judging everybody all the time, ask God to give you the wisdom to be a just and effective judge. An effective judge helps people take responsibility for their behavior. He/she gives meaningful punishments that teach people lessons so they do not choose the same wrong behavior again.
Sometimes you might be tempted to judge people ahead of time. You might think that if a girl has red hair, she’s got an uncontrollable temper. If a person has purple skin, you think they are from out of space. You don’t let them fit in with your group of friends. If a boy wears old, torn clothing, your town won’t let him play because he can’t pay for his own uniform. If three people won’t play with you, you think the 4th person won’t play with you. Look for the good in others.
The third person of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit will give you everything you need to stay on God’s path. If you need to know how to do it, the Holy Spirit will send someone to teach you. If you can’t understand it, the Holy Spirit will send someone to explain it so simply that you will understand. If you need money, the Holy Spirit will show you how to earn more money. If you need more time to play, the Holy Spirit will help you manage your time and get things done so you can have time to play with your family and friends. God is so good. He sends you everything and everybody you need at just the right time.
Now
pray the “Our Father.” Ask God to give you the strength to share even when you
are afraid you won’t have enough left.
Thank God for giving you everything you need. Thank God for sending people to help you.
Look for the light in the eyes of someone who helps you. God is looking at you
through that person. When you help someonelse, you are doing it for God.
“Our Father, who
art in Heaven,
Hallowed
be Thy name.
Thy
kingdom come.
Thy
will be done,
On
earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day, our daily bread.
And
forgive us our trespasses,
As
we forgive those who trespass against us.
And
lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Copyright
© 2003, 2006 Joan Y.