Preparing the way

3rd Sunday of Advent
December 15, 2013

Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Jerusalem: behold, your king is coming to you. Sion, do not be afraid: your salvation is at hand.

First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-6,10

Let the wilderness and the dry-lands exult,

let the wasteland rejoice and bloom,

let it bring forth flowers like the jonquil,

let it rejoice and sing for joy.

The glory of Lebanon is bestowed on it,

the splendour of Carmel and Sharon;

they shall see the glory of the Lord,

the splendour of our God.

Strengthen all weary hands,

steady all trembling knees

and say to all faint hearts,

‘Courage! Do not be afraid.

‘Look, your God is coming,

vengeance is coming,

the retribution of God;

he is coming to save you.’

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,

the ears of the deaf unsealed,

then the lame shall leap like a deer

and the tongues of the dumb sing for joy

for those the Lord has ransomed shall return.

They will come to Zion shouting for joy,

everlasting joy on their faces;

joy and gladness will go with them

and sorrow and lament be ended.

Psalm: Psalm 145:6-10

Second Reading: James 5:7-10

Be patient, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. Think of a farmer: how patiently he waits for the precious fruit of the ground until it has had the autumn rains and the spring rains! You too have to be patient; do not lose heart, because the Lord’s coming will be soon. Do not make complaints against one another, brothers, so as not to be brought to judgement yourselves; the Judge is already to be seen waiting at the gates. For your example, brothers, in submitting with patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11

John in his prison had heard what Christ was doing and he sent his disciples to ask him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or have we got to wait for someone else?’ Jesus answered, ‘Go back and tell John what you hear and see; the blind see again, and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised to life and the Good News is proclaimed to the poor; and happy is the man who does not lose faith in me.’

  As the messengers were leaving, Jesus began to talk to the people about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the breeze? No? Then what did you go out to see? A man wearing fine clothes? Oh no, those who wear fine clothes are to be found in palaces. Then what did you go out for? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet: he is the one of whom scripture says:

‘Look, I am going to send my messenger before you;

he will prepare your way before you.

‘I tell you solemnly, of all the children born of women, a greater than John the Baptist has never been seen; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is.’

Reflection

Preparing the way (Matthew 11:2-11)

by Bernard M. Borja

“Go back and tell John what you are hearing and seeing...” Jesus leaves the conclusions to John the Baptist if Jesus is the one they are expecting, the Messiah. John was in doubt because there was disconnect between his preaching about the Messiah and the actual ministry of Jesus. When John said to the people, “He will gather His wheat into his barn, but He will burn the chaff in a fire that never goes out (Matthew 3:12).“ they perceived Jesus as someone who will bring transformation of the physical world. Like a second Exodus where the oppressed will be separated from the oppressors, and the wrath of God shall be brought upon the sinners. But the coming of Jesus was a different Exodus – salvation because of God’s love for His people. Jesus came as the true light that brings healing, wholeness, and holiness.

Sometimes we become disappointed when we see those who sinned against us not being punished. We even wait for the time that these people will be brought down by God and see them suffer because of their sins. But it is not why God has sent us His only Son. Jesus came for the salvation of all, saints and sinners alike. Most of the time we do not really understand how God is working in our life but we are to trust and obey in order for us to receive Jesus completely in our hearts.

Jesus referred to John the Baptist as more than a prophet, and is greater than anyone who has ever lived, because he has prepared the way for the coming of Jesus. But Jesus also said that “the one who is least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than John (Matthew 11:11).”

We are all called to prepare the way for Jesus to come into our own hearts. But we must also prepare other people’s hearts so they, too, may experience the joy of salvation and have a meaningful life. Whoever prepares the way of the Lord is more than a prophet but whoever accepts Jesus Christ and His cross is greater than the one who prepares the way.

If we look at most the events in the world today, especially if we do not focus on the good things in our life, we might also ask the same question “should we expect someone else?” (Matthew 11:3). There are so many blessings that we are receiving everyday which already proves that God is in our favour. Jesus is already present and working in our life. But He still has to come fully when He brings us healing, wholeness, and the Good News (Matthew 11:4).

Prayer

God, Our Father, we thank You for all the blessings that You are pouring into our life. We are putting our trust and faith in You despite great obstacles as we prepare the way for the coming of Your Son, Jesus Christ. May we share and experience the joy of salvation with other people through the healing, wholeness, and holiness to have a meaningful life. This is all for Your greater glory, in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son.

Amen.