3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (YEAR A)

1st Reading       Isaiah 35: 1-6a, 10

Psalm                  Ps. 146: 1-10 (R . cf. Isa. 35:4)

2nd Reading     James 5: 7-10

Gospel                Matthew 11:2-11

WAITING IN JOYFUL HOPE

Dear friends, today is the 2nd Sunday in the month of December. This gives us an indication that we are gradually bringing the year 2022 to a close. This comes with lots of smiles and rejoicing, especially for those who have to surmount the difficult hurdles in the course of the year. In particular, today is the 3rd Sunday of Advent. This 3rd Sunday is very special as we are made to have a foretaste of the white we long to showcase at Christmas. It is called GAUDETE SUNDAY because the first words in the Entrance Antiphon say "rejoice in the Lord always". Gaudete means 'rejoice!'

The first reading for this Sunday (Isaiah 35:1-6, 10) falls within the larger scope of the first part of the book of Isaiah (Ch. 1-39). In this first part, we find Isaiah during the Assyrian invasion in the 8th Century BCE (700s) speaking to God's people craving security. Because of the troubles and turmoils of the time, some have lost faith and trust in God. We find Isaiah speaking to those who trust in God with a clear and precise message, thus, joy is near (Isa. 35:10).

I believe that the first reading speaks about the restoration of Israel with the mention of the wilderness. It is surprising to know that WILDERNESS, as used in the passage, is the same word that is used for the Book of Numbers. The word is MIDBAR (מִדבָּר) (in the desert).

The Book of Numbers is about Census, the count of people. If every family is up to, there will be joy and happiness. In Isaiah, some have been taken to exile, and there is no joy; there is no happiness. People have been scattered. There is disunity. This is a natural feeling. One consequence of unbelief in God's power to save is disunity, and we ought to be careful about it. However, what gives us hope is that amidst the oppression and dispersion of Israelites, amidst the suffering and pain, God comes to save us (Isa. 35: 4).

The message of salvation is one that works against unbelief because the senses and the bodily impediments to a proper apprehension of God's message will be taken away: "eyes shall see, ears shall hear, the lame will walk, the mute will speak""(Isa. 35: 5-6a). These people also constitute the 'poor' of society.

These works are seen in the Messiah, Christ. That is why we find Jesus in the Gospel telling the disciples of John the Baptist that, as a sign of God's salvation of man and as an affirmation of him being the Messiah, "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" (Matt. 2:4-6). 

We who have long been in wait for God's salvation from the impediments that hinder us from paying attention to God's Word, heeding God's voice; the impediments which have become a source of unbelief for us; we have been given a sign of hope. This sign is the cause of REJOICING on this GAUDETE SUNDAY. All we need is to continue to wait in joyful hope. Just wait.

May God come and save us.

Pax et Bonum