Are you the one who is to come?

Third Sunday of Advent Year A

Collect

O God, who see how your people faithfully await the feast of the Lord’s Nativity, enable us, we pray, to attain the joys of so great a salvation and to celebrate them always with solemn worship and glad rejoicing. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading
Is 35:1-6a, 10

God himself will come to save us.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah

The desert and the parched land will exult;
   the steppe will rejoice and bloom.
They will bloom with abundant flowers,
   and rejoice with joyful song.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to them,
   the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the LORD,
   the splendor of our God.
Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
   make firm the knees that are weak,
say to those whose hearts are frightened:
   Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God,
   he comes with vindication;
with divine recompense
   he comes to save you.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
   the ears of the deaf be cleared;
then will the lame leap like a stag,
   then the tongue of the dumb will sing.

Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return
   and enter Zion singing,
   crowned with everlasting joy;
they will meet with joy and gladness,
   sorrow and mourning will flee.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 146: 6-7, 8-9, 9-10

R. :

℟. (cf. Is 35:4) Lord, come and save us.
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

The LORD keeps faith forever,
   secures justice for the oppressed,
   gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.

℟. Lord, come and save us.
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

The LORD gives sight to the blind;
   the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just;
   the LORD protects strangers.

℟. Lord, come and save us.
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
   but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
   your God, O Zion, through all generations.

℟. Lord, come and save us.
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

Second Reading
Jas 5:7-10

Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand.

A reading from the Letter of Saint James

Be patient, brothers and sisters,
   until the coming of the Lord.
See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,
   being patient with it
   until it receives the early and the late rains.
You too must be patient.
Make your hearts firm,
   because the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another,
   that you may not be judged.
Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates.
Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters,
   the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

The word of the Lord.

Acclamation before the Gospel
Is 61:1 (cited in Luke 4:18)

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring tidings to the poor.

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.


Mt 11:2-11

Are you the one who is to come or should we look for another?

✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ,
   he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question,
“Are you the one who is to come,
   or should we look for another?”
Jesus said to them in reply,
   “Go and tell John 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.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

As they were going off,
   Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John,
   “What did you go out to the desert to see?
A reed swayed by the wind?
Then what did you go out to see?
Someone dressed in fine clothing?
Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces.
Then why did you go out? To see a prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
This is the one about whom it is written:
      Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
         he will prepare your way before you.
Amen, I say to you,
   among those born of women
   there has been none greater than John the Baptist;
   yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:

The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection

“Go back and tell John what you hear and see.” 

Experiencing Jesus is not something imaginary, fictitious or abstract. 

Experiencing Jesus is tangible: and engages our senses; you can hear it and see it! 

Thus, the testimony of these two disciples was one that could be believed: because they themselves saw and heard. 

What did they see and hear? 

Jesus told them: “the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” 

It would be good if today we ask ourselves, what are we witnesses to?  Can we say the same thing Jesus did?  Or have we diluted the witness we give? 

What can we say to our contemporary society to convince them that Jesus is the Messiah, the Saviour, the One sent by God? 

Jesus continued by saying, “Blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”  

Do we, who believe in Him, take offense at Jesus? 

We are on this journey of Advent.  It is good to reflect on what is taking place in our souls at this moment.  During this liturgical season, we remember God’s promises about the coming of the Messiah, which has been fulfilled in Jesus.  While at the same time we also await God’s promise of the second coming of the Saviour to be fulfilled.  This has already begun to be fulfilled from the time of the disciples of Jesus who were first Baptised with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday. 

God’s promises are powerful and fill us with courage.  In today’s First Reading we listen to this promise: Be strong! Do not be afraid! 
Here is your God; he will come with vengeance. With divine retribution 
he is coming to save you.” 

This is what He did! Jesus came to save us and will return again in glory.  Let us do as the two disciples did and proclaim Jesus’ works and bear witness that He lives amongst us! 

Prayer 

Father, thank You for sending Jesus to us as the Messiah who heals, frees and saves us.  We pray, in Jesus’ Name, that you take away our fear and that You fill us with the courage of Your Holy Spirit to be witnesses of Your great works of mercy in our time.  Amen. 

 

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