THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT – GAUDETE SUNDAY (2025)

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT – GAUDETE SUNDAY (2025)

Readings:

Isaiah 35:1-6, 10

Psalms 146:6-10

James 5:7-10

Matthew 11:2-11

The Entrance Antiphon for today’s liturgy, along with the worn twice yearly stole, sets the tone for today’s ‘Gaudete’ liturgy: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.  Indeed, the Lord is near.”  With the progression of Advent the celebration of Jesus’ birth draws ominously close, and, for all that we might know, God’s second coming could be just around the corner, for there is certainly enough in need of fixing in our earth, which at times, seems to be spinning out of control.  As we have said before, the world at the time of Isaiah was not what we might call the best of times, and Isaiah does his best to get his listeners to focus on what is ahead when God returns to earth to make all things whole: the desert will rejoice and abundantly bloom, the world will be filled with joyful song; feeble hands will be strengthened, and weak knees made firm; God will come with vindication, and sorrow and mourning will flee.  It sounds too good to be true!, but all things are possible for a loving God.  Some seven centuries later, even the author of James tells his readers to “take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.”

Which brings us to John the Baptizer, who last week we referred to as the last of the Old Testament prophets, or even the first of the New Testament prophets, and who this week finds himself in jail, having angered the temperamental King Herod with his preaching, which was not very subtle in pointing out Herod’s sexual indiscretions. John must have been allowed guests, because some of his followers kept him up to date with the work Jesus was doing.  The loneliness of prison no doubt caused John to do some very serious thinking, and it even caused John to question his visiting followers: do you think Jesus is “the one who is to come (“foretold by the Scriptures”), or should we look for another?”  Was John having the kind of simple ‘doubts’ that plague most people in times of trouble?  Why does God allow the good to suffer?  If God is a God of justice, why doesn’t God wreak havoc on my enemies?  Why did I get this particular illness or sickness?

Rather than be amazed that someone as close to Jesus as John the Baptizer is having a moment of doubt, we should take some comfort.  When we find ourselves despairing or doubting, losing hope or maybe even losing faith, we should be encouraged by the example of John the Baptist, for to wonder about God and God’s work is not to be faithless, rather, it is to be human.

Jesus shows no insult at the questioning of John’s disciples.  Jesus no doubt knew what John’s fate would be, and He would be led into a suffering far beyond the mere deprivation of His earthly freedom.  Indeed, in the Garden of Gethsamane, Jesus would sweat drops of blood at the thought of what was ahead, and from the cross He also would raise an important question: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me.”  It is no wonder that Jesus is gentle with John’s disciples: “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 preached to them.  And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”  Further, “as they were going off,” Jesus takes the time to praise John the Baptist: Yes, I tell you, [John is] more than a prophet.  This is the one about whom it is written: Behold, I am sending my servant ahead of you; He will prepare your way before you.”

John’s example should give us reason to hope.  “It is through questions that we go deeper into relationship with God.  It is in the moments of doubt that God rushes in to fill the void with a deeper love and a wider perspective around what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  We are not granted certainty at every turn.  We are not promised a life without suffering, just like the Baptist and Jesus.  We are not guaranteed prosperity and power.”  Never concern yourselves with questions, wonder, and doubt – they are capable of leading us deeper into understanding what is the path God has in mind for us.  Doubting does not cause us to step off that path God has ordained for us.  God is never far from us.  Like that famous little poem, if we look closely at the sand there are divine footprints accompanying us and encouraging us every step of the way.