HOMILY FOR THE 3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR A

Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Advent year A (Gaudete Sunday)

Isaiah 35:1-6,10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11

Theme: Be a collaborator to Jesus in the restoration of Joy

In the Gospel reading of today, we are told: "when John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing,  he sent word by his disciples and said to him, 'Are you the one who is to come or are we to wait for another?" (Mt 112-3). 

This was a strange scenario that could spur one to ask: 

*Was John doubting Jesus as the Messiah?

*Was John having mere difficulties in comprehending the ways and methods of Jesus? 

*Was John trying to convince his disciples who were jealous of Jesus and his disciples that Jesus was indeed the Messiah? Remember,  John's disciples said to John:" Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him" (Jn 3:25-26).

Remember, a similar question was earlier posed by the priests and Levites to John the Baptist: "Who are you? Are you Elijah? Are you the prophet? John responded: 'No, I am not. Then why are you baptizing,  if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet? (Jn 1:19-25). Apparently, John acknowledged, he was not the Messiah. But in the case of Jesus, Jesus did not deny but established he was the Messiah. 

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, John had no doubts about Jesus whom he characterized by saying: "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world" (Jn 1:29). The basic problem was that John had certain difficulties in his comprehension of the methods and ways of the Messiah. 

Judging from the background of the first reading, while Prophet Isaiah foretold of the coming of the Messiah, the people understood it from the political perspective. The Jews including John the Baptist expected a political Messiah. Remember, this was a time when Jerusalem was under captivity and longed for liberation and there was so much strife and crime in the land. Hence, the prophecy of Isaiah: "Behold your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame leap like the deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for Joy" (Isa 35:4-6). It was against these social-political background that even John the Baptist reflected of the coming of the Messiah.

Remember, John's description of the Messiah: "one having a winnowing fork in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire (Mt 3:12). John said: "the axe is lying at the root of the trees... Every tree that does not bear fruit,... he cuts down and throws into the fire" (Mt 3:7-10). Conclusively, John conceives Jesus as a severe Judge, whose methodology should be drastic, uncompromising, and judicial. 

However, Jesus rather than heed the conception of John, Jesus on the other hand, became merciful, humble, and loving toward the people. Jesus amidst the threshing floor, saw not only wheat but human chaff that could be redeemed. Hence, Jesus clears the difficulty both for John and his disciples. He told John's disciples that he was the Messiah because in his person is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah. He said: "Go back and tell John what you see and hear: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them" (Mt 11:5). 

Jesus ascertained that the people can still be redeemed than judged. He observed that those who lost faith in God can be renewed; those who wallow in the valley of darkness can be brought to light, and those held captive by sin and death can be liberated into the kingdom of God. He believed that even a personality like Mary Magdalene can be brought off the prostitute's house. 

Dear friends in Christ, following the methodology of love, humility, and mercy laid down by Jesus, the Holy Mother Church invites us on this 3rd Sunday of Advent, otherwise known as 'Gaudete Sunday' which means 'Rejoice Sunday to collaborate in the mission of Jesus towards the restoration of gladness and rejoicing in the lives of the people. 

There is so much sorrow and pain in our world today. Many wallow in agony and hopelessness. So much hunger, strife, division, suffering, rejection, intolerance, segregation, war etc. 

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, the duty is ours. Let us in the spirit of the restoration of Joy bring the light of truth to those who are blind so that they may see the glory of God. let us bring the word of God to the doorstep of their ears and hearts so that they meet and hear the invitation of Jesus to repentance and love. Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, the good news in its fullness is not preached until and unless the poor are brought to the Holy Eucharist. Let us bring the fullness of the Christian message to the poor and hopeless via the Holy Eucharist. Hence, it is a mistake to preach only social justice. 

Friends in Christ, drawing from the response Jesus gave to the disciples of John, we can conclude that Jesus wanted also that he is judged by what he did, and not merely by what he said. Hence, he said to them: "Go tell John what you see and hear". Beloved in Christ, the challenge of Jesus is still the same. How do we know that we love Jesus, that we are Christians? Children of God, it is by our deeds and not by mere words. The tree is known by its fruits (Mt 7:20). Our actions and deeds should proceed from our identity as Christians. 

Jesus went ahead to explain to the people the personality and mission of John the Baptist, he said: "what did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? No, Someone dressed in fine robes? Look those who wear fine robes are in the royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes,  I tell you, and more than a prophet...see I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you. Truly, I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he" (Mt 11:7-11).

Beloved in Christ, truth be told: Will Jesus speak about us in the same manner he spoke of John the Baptist, with such beautiful words? What description will Jesus give of our identity and mission? 

John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, was a man of truth. He spoke the truth and only the truth in the name of God. A truth that was hard and demanding. The truth that calls us to peace and change of heart.  In his greatness, he was a man of humility. He admitted that he was not the Messiah but rather a voice that cries out in the desert. John's greatness comes from Jesus and is totally dependent on Jesus. His greatness consisted in pointing out the One who was to come.

Following the statement of Jesus: "Truly, I tell you, among those born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he" (Mt 11:11). Here Jesus seems to say that while John's greatness consist in pointing out the Messiah who was to come, which characterized the act of awaiting the coming of the Kingdom of God as seen in the Old Covenant, whereas in the New Covenant, we who are here are already experiencing his coming. We are already in the kingdom. We are not longing for kingdom. Hence, the "least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he" (Mt 11:11).  Beloved in Christ, the Old covenant is different from the New Covenant. The Old covenant is the position of the slave while the New Covenant is the position of a son. The least in the New Covenant is greater than the greatest in the Old Covenant. This does not imply that John the Baptist does not have a high place among the saints in Heaven. However, merit of the the incarnation were retro-active for those who acted according to their knowledge and conscience before the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah. 

Friends in Christ, Let us heed to the advise of St. James today. He says: "Be patient, therefore, beloved until the coming of the Lord. Just like the farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and late rain. So also you must be patient" (Jas 5:7-8).

In this season of Advent, let us vigilantly be patient in good deeds as we await the birth of the saviour of the world. May God bless his words in our heart both now and forever. Amen

Happy season of Advent to you all

Fr Remi Osj