THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Year A (Matthew 11:2-11) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
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FIRST READING - Is 35:1-6a, 10
"Here is your God, he comes to save you."
A reading from the Book of Isaiah
1 The wilderness and the parched land will exult;
the Arabah will rejoice and bloom;
2 Like the crocus it shall bloom abundantly,
and rejoice with joyful song.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
They will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God.
3 Strengthen hands that are feeble,
make firm knees that are weak,
4 Say to the fearful of heart:
Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God,
he comes with vindication;
With divine recompense
he comes to save you.
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall see,
and the ears of the deaf be opened;
6 Then the lame shall leap like a stag,
and the mute tongue sing for joy.
For waters will burst forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the Arabah.
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 James
7 [a]Be patient, therefore, brothers, 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.[b] 8 You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not complain, brothers, about one another, that you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates. 10 Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Mt 11:2-11
"Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?"
✠From the Gospel according to Matthew
2 [a]When John heard in prison[b] of the works of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to him 3 [c]with this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” 4 Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 [d]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. 6 And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”
[e] 7 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? 8 Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. 9 Then why did you go out? To see a prophet?[f] Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 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.’
11 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.[g]
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Year A (Matthew 11:2-11)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear People of God,
In today’s Word of God, God the Father calls upon all humanity to run toward the joy of the Gospel, which is to enjoy the holy presence of God descending right here on this earth.
God the Father reveals to humanity that even in ancient times, the prophet Isaiah proclaimed to all mankind, “rejoice and await the day the Savior comes to humanity in the very flesh like all other human beings.”
God the Father lets humanity know that because of His great love for mankind, the very Son of God humbled Himself to become man, to accompany and dwell with humanity.
When the Son of God comes, He will always bring joy, happiness, and peace: giving sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, movement to the lame, life to the dead, and the Gospel to the poor, which is the joy and happiness that God grants to all humanity.
God the Father reveals to humanity that the Son of God descended to earth to become man, dwelling and working with humanity.
Since ancient times, humanity has been preoccupied with worldly life, so few people turned toward the Word of God, which was turning toward the birth of the Son of God.
Only a few people believed and acknowledged that the Son of God was among humanity.
Those who believed this enjoyed happiness in the love of God the Father.
Until today, God the Father continues to call upon humanity to turn toward heaven above, which is the Son of God dwelling among humanity.
Listen to and practice the word of God, which is the word commanded by the Savior: love itself will erase death, erase hatred, and erase the darkness covering mankind.
The very love that God grants to humanity will drive away all sins, drive away all passions and vices that Satan is raging upon the world.
God the Father calls on today’s humanity to be vigilant, awaiting the day God comes a second time, to be vigilant every moment to await the day God calls one's soul and body out of this world.
But while humanity is still on the earthly journey, the Son of God always accompanies humanity to go to the happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven; that is the joy and happiness that God grants to humanity; humanity must be vigilant and listen to the word commanded by God and put it into practice.
The Word of God is always eternal, always happiness, and it always brings peace to mankind.
Man only needs to live and practice according to God's command, which is to live the love that God daily calls humanity to.
Turn toward the eternal Kingdom of Heaven, turn toward the future Kingdom of Heaven.
God the Father calls on all humanity to rejoice in the love of God; that joy granted to humanity is the Son of God dwelling among mankind.
Through the image of the prophet Isaiah, the day the Savior would be born, the day the Son of God would descend to earth, bringing happiness to humanity, was foretold.
Furthermore, God the Father also introduces the image of the messenger John the Baptist, the one who came to prepare the way for the Savior.
John is a brightly burning lamp, a lamp lighting the path and opening the way for people to run to God.
For this very reason, God instructs John's disciples to go back and tell John the Baptist that the Son of God has come and is among humanity, and He is carrying out the commandment of love that God gives to mankind.
That love is to give sight to the blind, to make the lame walk, the deaf hear, the dead rise, and blessed is anyone who does not stumble because of God.
Through this image, God wants John the Baptist to know that He is truly a God of love, a God who is among humanity and continues to preach the word that God gives to humanity.
This preaching has the power to save human souls from the captivity of Satan, from the captivity of darkness.
In addition, God also praises the forerunner messenger, Saint John the Baptist.
He proved to humanity that the words of Saint John the Baptist, the messenger preparing the way for the coming of the Savior, are true; and through that preaching, He also proved to humanity that the very love of God is present among humanity, dwelling with humanity.
Therefore, God calls upon all of humanity to look towards the heavens, look towards the day the Son of God descends to earth, look towards the day God comes to save humanity.
But until the present moment, God the Father has wanted humanity to commemorate the day the Son of God was born into the world as a man, and to look forward to the eternal life of the Kingdom of Heaven to come.
That is the preparation of the soul for the day God comes a second time, the day of God's Advent, so that God may bring joy and happiness down to those souls who remain loyal and faithful to God the Father until their last breath.
Through that image, Saint Paul himself called upon all humanity to be patient, calm, steadfast, and faithful in awaiting the day God comes to liberate humanity from the captivity of Satan, which is freeing the soul from the captivity of darkness that Satan is besieging.
The important message that God the Father wants to send to humanity today is:
- To always rejoice in the joy of God
- To walk in the love that God grants to humanity, a love in which God is present among and accompanying humanity in all places and at all times
- To be vigilant and walk the path of love to which God Himself has called all humanity, which is to love God above all things and to love others as yourself.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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