Cycle A - Year II:  

15 December 2019: Third Sunday of Advent 

(Liturgical Color: Pink or Rose)

Readings:

First Reading:        Isaiah 35:1-6

Second Reading:   James 5:7-10

Gospel:  Please Read  Matthew 11:2-11

"Let us rejoice!"

The liturgy for this Sunday wants us to rejoice because we are now mid-way in our Advent pilgrimage and thus it is very near to the big event that is Christmas Day.

The third Sunday of Advent is also Gaudete Sunday or the Sunday of rejoicing.  "Gaudete" is a Latin word, which means "rejoice"!  The liturgical color of the priest's vestment and the altar cloth is either pink or rose, a break from the Advent color of violet.  

And so as we faithfully await the feast of the Lord's birth the theme of joy pervades the liturgy and the readings.

The Prophet Isaiah in the first reading reminds us that the presence of the Lord brings joy to the whole creation.  In the second reading, St. James exhorts Christians to endure with patience all hardship and trials until the coming of the Lord.  (This is a timely message in the midst of disturbing and challenging political and social situations in our country at these times of our history.) 

Now the Gospel narrative is about John the Baptist, who is in prison because of his preaching about the Messiah.  Although incarcerated John showed joyful spirit as he continued to give witness to Jesus, and to point others to the Lamb of God.  John's zeal for Jesus would not be contained by prison walls.  He lived his life entirely to prepare the people for the coming of the Lord, although John never had the earthly consolation of having seen our Lord Jesus Christ complete His earthly ministry.

John knew that his death was imminent while in prison.  But rather than in despair, John wanted his disciples to come into the care of Jesus when he is gone.  So John sent them to Jesus with this question: "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" (Mt 11:3)

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Jesus did not give them a direct answer but instead points to His public ministry.  To John's disciples our Lord Jesus said in reply: "Go and tell John of what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them." (Mt 11:4-5)  So Jesus is really saying "The works that I am doing are my witness!"  In other words, Jesus confirms by His deeds that He is indeed the awaited One, the Messiah who has brought Good News to the poor and the oppressed.

At this point, let us take a moment to also ask ourselves: Do we also seek Jesus?  Why do we seek Him out?  Do we go to Him because we believe in Jesus?  Do we regularly spend time with our Lord Jesus in the Holy Eucharist?

Our gift this Christmas is that Jesus is always there for us, waiting for us to come to Him, like John's disciples in today's reading.  And Jesus is not only our Savior; He is a friend and our guide to the heavenly home.

Then let our hearts rejoice in gladness, as we near the end of our Advent journey, and anticipate with great joy the Lord's coming on Christmas Day.  Let us begin our rejoicing because the birth of our Messiah is so close at hand.

A blessed Sunday to us all.  And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!