Third Sunday of Advent
Reflection: Christ is here among us
By SISTER MARY McGLONE
Christmas lights are shining all over the world. Whether in the Southern Hemisphere’s summer, the northern winter or the eternal spring of equatorial places, we set up luminarias, burn candles and put lights on trees, creating an atmosphere of cheer wherever we look.
Yet no matter the display, compared to what Scripture tells us about the time of Emmanuel, even our most lavish decor seems paltry.
Isaiah tells us that with God’s coming, deserts will sparkle and the land itself will seem to sing. In “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home,” Pope Francis said something similar: “The destiny of all creation is bound up with the mystery of Christ. … The creatures of this world no longer appear to us under merely natural guise because the risen One is mysteriously holding them to himself and directing them towards fullness as their end … The very flowers of the field and the birds … are now imbued with his radiant presence.”
Francis calls all of creation a sacrament of Emmanuel, God with us. And God keeps saying, “I am doing something new! Do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:19).
What are we to perceive?
That was John the Baptist’s question about Jesus. Just imagine, he was in prison and wondering if his work had been in vain. Jesus was not throwing tyrants from their thrones, or overwhelming people with the fear of God. He preached far more mildly — and with more humor — than John.
So, John sent his disciples to ask, “Are you really the one? Is this how it will be after all that I said?” When we face what seems to be indomitable evil, we ask the same.
What do we expect when we pray, “Lord, come and save us?” Today’s psalm proclaims that the Lord keeps faith and secures justice for the oppressed. We look at tyranny, wars and starvation and ask, “When? Where?”
It’s a beautiful thing to repeat Francis’ words that the Risen One is directing all toward fullness in God. These days we enjoy Christmas trees, foods and gifts. We chant, inviting Emmanuel to be with us. We sing “Joy to the World,” and savor the gentle harmonies of “O Holy Night,” but what does all of this say to the six o’clock news?
Paul calls us to the patience of farmers. What we may not realize is that we need that patience with ourselves more than with God. What are we doing to make the necessary difference, to increase the realm of love in our world, to risk our comfort like prophets do? Do we have the patience to continue on when we don’t see dramatic signs?
Today’s Gospel suggests that, rather than look for Jesus in the crib or even the tabernacle, we should listen to what he told John’s disciples. Where do we find Christ active today?
Certainly, in the work of physicians who remove cataracts, prescribe antibiotics, vaccines, reading glasses and implant cochlear implants for people who cannot hear. We see Christ’s saving work where the people of Uganda have the means to purify their water, where World Central Kitchen is providing food in Gaza and Ukraine, where teachers sacrifice material gain to help others develop their potential. We see it where missionaries leave their homes and security to serve their neediest neighbors. We see it in peaceful protests for justice for immigrants and on behalf of democracy. We see it wherever one person reaches out to help or comfort another.
Each of these scenes depicts the ongoing nativity of Christ among us.
God has given birth to a creation capable of participating in divine life. Jesus gave a replicable witness to that truth. Like him, we need to pray without ceasing to open ourselves to grace. We need to consecrate time to pondering our Scriptures to better understand God’s ways among us. We need to reflect and pray with others who hear the same call.
Then, with the boldness of the Word become flesh, we must speak out in truth and integrity and act with the audacity of Jesus and the prophets to continue the life-giving, risky work of Christ in our world — any and everywhere.
Francis taught that God is drawing the entire creation toward the fullness of all we can become. That fullness is dynamic, growing as we rejoice in our limitless and loving union with one another, God and all of creation. In this season, and always, we are called to be the lights that manifest the presence of Christ among us.
Reading 1
(Isaiah 35: 1-6a, 10)
The desert and the parched land will exult;
the steppe will rejoice and bloom.
They will bloom with abundant flowers,
and rejoice with joyful song.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to them,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the LORD,
the splendor of our God.
Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
make firm the knees that are weak,
say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God,
he comes with vindication;
with divine recompense
he comes to save you.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
the ears of the deaf be cleared;
then will the lame leap like a stag,
then the tongue of the mute will sing.
Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return
and enter Zion singing,
crowned with everlasting joy;
they will meet with joy and gladness,
sorrow and mourning will flee.
Responsorial Psalm
(Psalm 146: 6-10)
R. Lord, come and save us.
The LORD God keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Lord, come and save us.
The LORD gives sight to the blind;
the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just;
the LORD protects strangers.
R. Lord, come and save us.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations.
R. Lord, come and save us.
Reading 2
(James 5: 7-10)
Be patient, brothers and sisters,
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.
You too must be patient.
Make your hearts firm,
because the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another,
that you may not be judged.
Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates.
Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters,
the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
Gospel
(Matthew 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.
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.”