Sunday in Advent A 2013 Theme: “Patience” Believer’s Guide in Advent.
1st Reading Is 35:1-6a, 10: When the savior comes every thing will change
2nd Reading James 5:7-10 Patiently wait for the Lord
Gospel Mathew: 11:2-11Jesus acknowledges John Baptist’s greatness.
We are alreay in the III week of Advent.
A time that shows the savior is not very far.
We are advised to practice, virtues of patience, justice and charity, magnanimity, goodness, kindness, and compassion.
Often we try to be good.
Our may become weary.
At such times we have to reaffirm our desire to be good.
There are so many temptations on the road to spiritual progress.
Unless we Christians consciously try to live this our life may become like those around us.
The influence of our neighbors on every aspect of our lives is very real.
The scriptural passages of today reveals to us how God enters into our lives.
God wants us to co-operate in his divine plan of salvation
Isaiah reveals to the people and to us today that God cares for us.
How God will restore so many defects in us by his miraculous action.
He will restore our vision.
Our defective limbs to its wholeness.
This is possible because God, wants his creation which he has created, to be whole.
Though we might destroy the life by our sinful nature he still keeps us in his love.
The picture we find in Isaiah is so perfect that even a lame deer will leap with joy.
All will gather in Jerusalem and shout with joy and gladness, God will escort them.
Sorrow will be put to flight.
In the second reading we find St. James telling us to exercise patience like a farmer.
The picture we have of a farmer.
After the farmer sows or tills his field he patiently waits for its harvest.
He works day and night taking care of the field.
This picture we have seen many times in our lives.
We live in the towns we hardly have seen a real farmer doing his job.
Then most of the farmers have stopped farming
The farmland has become fallow.
So our idea of patience of a farmer is only from films.
So patience experience shown from the fartmer for us is onl make believe.
In the Gospel we find two pictures.
One of the Baptist, who is in prison, he must have had some idea of the Messiah.
The popular view was that..
1. the savior would be a great king.
2. Who would be greater than David.
3. Who would restore the Israel to it’s pristine glory.
But here was a person who was working miracles.
Dining with the sinners.
Going from place to place.
People were following him.
Now John sends his disciples to enquire about Jesus
Jesus does not answer them directly.
He asks them to see the signs they see and go and report to John who he is.
And Jesus speaks of John in glowing words.
He calls him greatest of the prophets.
Jesus quotes the OT and says he is a “messenger” of the one who is to come.
Jesus answers them with a picture of miracles that have been wrought by him.
These should make Baptist believe that the Messiah has in fact arrived.
For us in this world the mission is to announce the experience of Jesus we have had.
Are we convinced that we have met him.
Or are we still groping in darkness not knowing whom we are looking for.
The encounter with Jesus and his mission must keep us occupied with the values of the Kingdom.
Often we go from place to place.
From one religious experience to another.
From one testimony to another.
Our attachment to Jesus is it permanent.or transitory?
Let us decide during this Advent.
If we indeed find the messiah and are able to recognize him ourselves, let us rejoice.
With this in view let us participate in this Eucharist where Jesus lives in person.
Shall we wait expectantly during the coming week, make amends for the times we faied.
Wishing you a happy Sunday
Yours ever in the divine word,
Fr. Juze Vaz svd
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