Homily:
Third Sunday of Advent Year A
Reading
1: To understand Isaiah we have to put ourselves back in his time. The people
of Israel have been conquered by their enemies, because they did not live up to
their covenant with God. They had forsaken the God of their ancestors. They are
in exile from their homeland. In the midst of this desolate reality Isaiah
gives them a message of hope. God will come to save them. Like the desert after
a spring rain blossoms with flowers, so God will restore them. They will see
the glory of God, his divine power.
What
shall be signs of confirmation that God is saving his people? The blind will
see, the deaf hear, the crippled restored. And the people in exile will return
to Jerusalem singing for joy.
What
was prophesied by Isaiah became a reality when the people were restored to
Jerusalem. In time what was desolated and destroyed was restored to a greater
glory. God once more saved his people.
But
we know this prophetic word, though initially fulfilled by the return from
exile, its complete fulfillment took place by the coming of Jesus. God became
man to save his people from the eternal exile of separation from him. The signs
and wonders spoken of by Isaiah performed by Jesus was the clear sign of who he
was. Recognizing this should give us great joy, resulting in thanksgiving to
God for fulfilling his promises.
Gospel:
There are two parts. The first is addressed to John and his disciples; the
second is addressed to the crowd about the significance of John and his
ministry.
John
may have presumed that Jesus would continue the Baptist’s ministry, primarily
preaching a message of repentance and confronting the moral wrongs of the day.
Jesus does preach repentance and calls for reform of one’s life. But he goes
beyond. His is a ministry of love and mercy, compassion and service towards
those afflicted either by natural causes or spiritual bondage.
Jesus
identifies his mission as the one we heard in the first reading from Isaiah. He
has come to save and restore. No, John, you are not wrong in recognizing Jesus
as the Messiah. You were wrong in your expectations of him.
To
the crowds Jesus affirms the ministry of John as a prophet, not just any
prophet, but the prophet who would come in the spirit of Elijah. His mission
was to prepare the way of the Lord and point him out when he came. Not only is
he a prophet, but because of his role, his significance is unique.
Birth
by nature is special; but birth by grace into the kingdom of God is greater.
John is called to recognize the true identity and ministry of Jesus; the people
were called to recognize and honor the unique role John played in the history
of salvation. We are called to realize what God has done for us and respond
with gratitude and in a way of life commensurate with the grace of salvation.
Reading
2: Last Sunday we heard that the Scriptures were given to us to teach us
patience and encouragement. The promise of God will be fulfilled. Today, again
we are called to wait with patience for the coming of the Lord in glory. As the
farmer, who plants the seed waits with patience for it to bear fruit, so must
we.
Last
week we were told to live in one accord with one another, so that with one
voice we may glorify God. Today, we are told do not grumble against one
another. Do not focus on the fault of others. Do not stand in judgment towards
others. Like Jesus we are to endure our sufferings at the hands of other by
fixing our eyes on the coming as the Lord. It takes a bigger person to bless
and not to curse; to rejoice and not to retaliate.
