1 “He will sing joyfully because of you.” What are some examples in the world about which you might say, “listen! God is singing!”?

2. This reading says it twice.“Be not discouraged! The Lord, your God, is in your midst.” Have you ever remembered the presence of God in the middle of a crisis? What effect did it have on you?

Second Reading
Philippians 4:4-7

1. St. Paul says we must

––rejoice in the Lord always,
––be kind to all,
––lose anxiety,
––make all our requests known to God and
––thank God as though he has already granted the requests.

This is a long list. Are you better at some than others? Which ones could you improve on?

2. Maybe you rejoice when you are singing at Mass on Sunday. Are there other times during the week that you experience the same kind of joy? What makes you happy in the Lord?

Gospel
Luke 3:10-18

1. What kind of people went to hear John the Baptist and then repented? Would you show up to hear someone like John today? What would you want to see and hear? What are today’s prophets talking about? Anti-racial problems? Starving immigrants? Climate crisis? Discuss. 

2. “The crowds asked John the Baptist, ‘what should we do?’” What should I do today? What is my “minimal step forward’? Will the Lord do the remainder?

To those who asked: “What must we do to convert”? he simply replied: “he who has food, share it with the one who has none. Whoever has two cloaks should share with the one who has none.” In other words he began with the least, he behaved like a true shepherd, a great pastor and prophet. 

… To baptize all these sinners, in return, he only asked for a minimal step forward, because he knew that with this step, the Lord would do the rest. And they would convert. This great prophet was a shepherd who understood the situation of the people and helped them to move forward with the Lord.

Pope Francis, The Great and the Least
Dec. 15, 2016