Gospel MT 11:2-11
When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ,
he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question,
“Are you the one who is to come,
or should we look for another?”
Jesus said to them in reply,
“Go and tell John what you hear and see:
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.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”
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?
Then what did you go out to see?
Someone dressed in fine clothing?
Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces.
Then why did you go out? To see a prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
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.
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.
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.”
Reflection:
Advent is a season of anticipation and hope. The 3rd Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudate Sunday meaning rejoice. It is indeed a time to rejoice and to receive Jesus in our heart's, our minds and our midst. We wait for the Lord's coming full of hope, love and joy. Let's not get tired of waiting. Patience is the key to a good Christian life. We wait and hope only in the Lord. We can emulate our heavenly Mother who was a vessel of patience. She patiently followed the will of the Father. She listened to the words of the prophet Simeon and exercised patience. During the wedding at Cana, she patiently told the servants "Do whatever he tells you" even though Jesus tells her that his hour had not arrived yet. She waited patiently for God's divine plan in her life in spite of all the trials, sufferings and pain she had to go through.
Jesus does not tell Johns' disciples directly on who he is. He asks them to observe what is happening around them and report it to John for him to decipher himself. Likewise Jesus is calling us to fix on the ''Jesus antenna', block out the noises surrounding us and hear and listen to what he is telling us. For his promptings are soft and the noise of this world can distract us. He invites us to seek him with a calm demeanour. As St. Francis de Sales says "Have patience with all things, but first of all with yourself". So let us be patient and not anxious. "Anxiety is the greatest evil that can befall a soul except sin. God command you to pray, but he forbids you to worry". St. Francis de Sales.
Advent Advantage:
Let us move closer to Christmas by letting go of all anxieties and worries and learn to seek him. "Seek by reading and you will find by meditating. Knock by praying and it will be opened to you in contemplation"- St.John of the Cross.
Contributors:
Shanti Caroline
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.”
Reflection:
Advent is a season of anticipation and hope. The 3rd Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudate Sunday meaning rejoice. It is indeed a time to rejoice and to receive Jesus in our heart's, our minds and our midst. We wait for the Lord's coming full of hope, love and joy. Let's not get tired of waiting. Patience is the key to a good Christian life. We wait and hope only in the Lord. We can emulate our heavenly Mother who was a vessel of patience. She patiently followed the will of the Father. She listened to the words of the prophet Simeon and exercised patience. During the wedding at Cana, she patiently told the servants "Do whatever he tells you" even though Jesus tells her that his hour had not arrived yet. She waited patiently for God's divine plan in her life in spite of all the trials, sufferings and pain she had to go through.
Jesus does not tell Johns' disciples directly on who he is. He asks them to observe what is happening around them and report it to John for him to decipher himself. Likewise Jesus is calling us to fix on the ''Jesus antenna', block out the noises surrounding us and hear and listen to what he is telling us. For his promptings are soft and the noise of this world can distract us. He invites us to seek him with a calm demeanour. As St. Francis de Sales says "Have patience with all things, but first of all with yourself". So let us be patient and not anxious. "Anxiety is the greatest evil that can befall a soul except sin. God command you to pray, but he forbids you to worry". St. Francis de Sales.
Advent Advantage:
Let us move closer to Christmas by letting go of all anxieties and worries and learn to seek him. "Seek by reading and you will find by meditating. Knock by praying and it will be opened to you in contemplation"- St.John of the Cross.
Contributors:
Shanti Caroline
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