Family Matters
Dec 11: Third Sunday of Advent
It’s Gaudete Sunday, and you know what that means: light a pink candle!
Do you know what else it means? I don’t either.1
As you’re getting ready for Christmas, today2 is a good day to slow down and reflect on the joy of the season. Pope Francis said instead of fretting about "all they still haven't" done to prepare for Christmas, people should "think of all the good things life has given you."
Reading 1
Is 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.
Once again, we’re re-running episodes from earlier in the week. I’m not sure what I can add to what I wrote the other day, without plagiarizing Bishop Barron’s lovely homily, so I’ll just share that:
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10.
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.
This psalm presages all of the things Jesus offers as proof that He’s the Messiah.
We don’t really know when Jesus figured out that He was destined to be the Savior of the World. But imagine being a young boy, studying the Torah and memorizing Psalms, and realizing that they’re all talking about you. That must’ve been a big moment for the Son of Man.
Reading 2
Jas 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.
Just before this passage,3 James condemns the rich who abused their employees and stole from them. He warns that they grew fat on the work of others, but are really just being fattened for slaughter.
This, then, is a shift of gears. Obviously, he’s quoting the Sermon on the Mount, admonition the reader to not judge others. But here, it’s not a vague warning of future judgement. The Judge of the World is coming, so be patient, with each other and with yourself.
Alleluia
Is 61:1 (cited in Lk 4:18)
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
“Messiah” means “anointed one,” so this is being spoken in the voice of the savior. Notice that there’s no mention of miracles or signs; just glad tidings to the poor. That’ll be important later.
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. 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."
It’s funny to think about John the Baptist and Jesus being relatives (even if we’re not exactly sure how they’re related in modern terms).4 Their mothers were close enough that when Mary heard Elizabeth was pregnant, she came running, even though she knew she was pregnant herself. However they were related, they were probably close growing up.
John probably didn’t suddenly start living in the desert just before his story in the Gospels. I imagine he was probably a prophet and holy man for some time, judging by the way people recognize him, and even suspect he’s Elijah.
Jesus, on the other hand, was a carpenter for most of His life. So, when Jesus starts performing miracles around the time he was 30, I bet people were like, "Wait, another religious weirdo? What is with that family?"
There’s something I didn’t notice about this story upon first reading: John the Baptist is in jail. As far as we know, this is the one and only time because, spoiler alert, he doesn’t make it out of prison. So, that means this takes place after John baptized Jesus.5 After the heavens were opened and after the Spirit of God descending like a dove. After a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son.”
After all of that, John has the temerity to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" Seriously, dude?
Seriously.
John is in jail, remember. Probably going to die.6 If Jesus is the Messiah, why hasn't he overthrown the Romans and restored the temple? Why isn't he gathering an army? Why is John in jail?
Even with all the signs and wonders John the Baptist has witnessed, and remember, “among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist,” even after seeing the sky opened up with his own eyes he still has doubts. When faced with severe suffering and injustice, anyone, anyone may doubt.
This is what C.S. Lewis was talking about in Mere Christianity, regarding faith as a virtue:
“Faith is the art of holding onto things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods. For moods will change, whatever view your reason takes. I know that by experience. Now that I am a Christian, I do have moods in which the whole thing looks very improbable; but when I was an atheist, I had moods in which Christianity looked terribly probable. This rebellion of your moods against your real self is going to come anyway. That is why faith is such a necessary virtue.”
Jesus responds to John’s moment of doubt by pointing the miracles He’s done: “The blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised…” Remember, miracles are signs of God’s power and presence. Jesus performs them not just for the benefit of the one person, but for everyone who witnesses the miracle, or hears about it 2,000 years later.
But notice that that’s not the whole list. Jesus caps it off with “and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” In the Alleluia, we heard the Messiah will bring glad tidings to the poor.7 James rebuked the unjust rich and preached patience to the righteous poor.
Miracles are a part of Jesus’ ministry, but so is helping the poor. They’re always on His mind, and should be on ours, as well. We can’t perform miracles, but we can give alms, through the Church, charity, or our own interactions.
Through faith, we can make the desert bloom, even in a small way for someone in need.
Okay, I kinda do. Advent used to be as long as Lent, and it was felt that people needed a break from the long season of fasting. Later on, the season was shortened, but we kept the celebratory Sunday, just for funsies.
If it’s still “today” when you read this. Sorry for getting it out late again!
The Gospels use the word “cousin” loosely, and it doesn’t seem like Elizabeth and Mary were sisters. After all, Mary was a teenager, and Elizabeth thought she was too old to have kids. The Greek word Luke uses for their relationship is suggenes, which means kinswoman or relative. So, Elizabeth could be an older cousin, an aunt, or something even further removed biologically.
Definitely, but he doesn’t know that.
See? I told you it’d be important later.