3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (YEAR A)

1st Reading              Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10

Psalm                         146:6c-7, 8-9a, 9bc-10 (R. cf. Isaiah 35:4)

R:// "Come, Lord, and save us"

2nd Reading            James 5:7-10

Gospel                      Matthew 11: 2-11

WAIT WHILE REJOICING

Peace and Goodness, friends! Today is the 3rd Sunday of Advent (Year A), and the 2nd Sunday of December 2025. The 3rd Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday, Sunday of Rejoicing. Why? I suggest two reasons for this. The first is that the Entrance Antiphon begins with the imperative Gaudete (Rejoice!). Secondly, our joy is heightened because we are using Rose (or Pink). This colour is a mixture of Violet (or Purple) and a relatively small amount of White. This means that with the mixture of white, Christmas is in view. It is no longer far from us. In fact, today, we shall see that the third Advent candle will be lit. This is the candle of Joy. 

Let us turn to the readings. We shall focus on the fact that there are three dimensions to rejoicing. These are when rejoicing becomes very difficult. 

The first reading is from Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10, and the Gospel is from Matthew 11:2-11. For the first reading, we are reading from Proto-Isaiah (Chapters 1-39). This is a time of political instability and threats from rising powerful nations like Assyria and Babylon. This is the difficult moment where people are to rejoice. In fact, the word "joy" and its other forms appear about six times in the first reading (Isa. 35:1, 2,6,10). In a difficult situation, there is the command to rejoice.

Aside from this, there are three dimensions we should look at. These dimensions are challenges to rejoicing and being joyful. 

The first dimension is where to rejoice. This has to do with location. The author mentions the setting. Thus, "the wilderness and the parched land will exult; the Arabah will rejoice and bloom" (Isa. 35:1). The wilderness and the parched land are places where there is scarcity of water, of food, and security is not assured. This is the circumstance. Therefore, no matter where you are, you need to rejoice. Even in places of scarcity, where the basic necessities of life are not assured, rejoice. Our situations should not limit us from rejoicing.

The second dimension is who is to rejoice. The author mentions the blind, the deaf, the lame, the mute (Isa. 35:5-6a). These are people who are greatly challenged with their senses. The eyes are to behold the glory of God, the ears are to listen to his Words, the legs are to carry the message to others, and the mouth is to proclaim the goodness and glory of God. These senses and parts of the body represent the humanity of a person. These people are challenged. They cannot fully experience SHALOM (Peace). They are to rejoice. No matter who you are, you are to rejoice. No one is excluded because, in one way or the other, we are similarly challenged. 

The third dimension is when to rejoice. This is time. The text of the first reading is also about the vengeance and retribution of the Lord. Even though it is about the vengeance and wrath of God, you need to rejoice. Therefore, no matter the time, you need to rejoice. The time might not be favourable, but rejoice. Realise that in all three dimensions, the author talks about the barest and most difficult and threatening situations. Where you are, the personal situation, and the time of your life can militate against your joy. Yet, you need to rejoice. 

The situation is similar in the case of John the Baptist in the Gospel (Matthew 11:2-11). The author says John the Baptist was in prison. Prison is not a place to be happy in and about. He spoke the truth, confronted evil, and was imprisoned. Someone is suppressing his ability to rejoice. John the Baptist cannot rejoice. He, however, looks forward to the vengeance of the Lord. 

John the Baptist told his disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you the one who is to come, or have we got to wait for someone else?" (Matt. 11:3). Jesus responded that the disciples of John should relay to their master what they are seeing. Thus, "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. 11:4-6). These are the same things, the situations Isaiah talked about. If they are rejoicing, then God has freed them. 

The problem John the Baptist finds is that the vengeance of the Lord talked about by Isaiah is not indicated. The enemies are not being destroyed immediately. He wants it to happen all at once. In fact, he wants his own enemies to be shown the wrath of God. That is the situation of many of us. We just need to understand that the ways and times of God are different. He does things beautifully in his own appointed time.

Our attitude even as we rejoice should be WAITING. Just wait. That is the attitude indicated in the second reading from James 5:7-10. The Greek word used by the author is "μακροθυμήσατε" (makrothymēsate), and it relates to being patient, not rushing things. Just relax. If we do not relax, and we grumble, we will limit the vengeance and redemption of God, and situations will remain the same. 

It is interesting that the author of the letter of James is saying, "Do not COMPLAIN (or GRUMBLE) against one another ..." (James 5:9). This is the attitude of complaining for lack of patience. This is dangerous. How? The Greek word for COMPLAIN or GRUMBLE, as used in the text, is STENAZETE. This is the same Greek word used to refer to the work of the Holy Spirit on our behalf. Thus, "the Spirit himself intercedes for us with GROANINGS too deep for words" (Romans 8:26-27). The Greek word for "groan" in Romans 8:26 is στεναγμῶν (stenagmon), from the verb στενάζω (stenazo). Therefore, as you wait, let the Spirit do the groaning, the grumbling on your behalf. 

Pax et Bonum