COLLECT: “O GOD, WHO SEE HOW YOUR PEOPLE FAITHFULLY AWAIT THE FEAST OF THE LORD’S NATIVITY, ENABLE US, WE PRAY, TO ATTAIN THE JOYS OF SO GREAT A SALVATION AND TO CELEBRATE THEM ALWAYS WITH SOLEMN WORSHIP AND GLAD REJOICING. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Is. 35:1-6,10; Ps 145:6-10; James 5:7-10; Mt. 11:2-11.
“SHARE THE BURDEN”
There is a story about a group of antelopes that were threatened by a hunter in a forest. They were running for their dear lives. When they got to a river they did not know how to cross over to finally escape from being killed by the hunter. The biggest among them decided that it would take the lead into the water. While in the water, it instructed the next biggest to place its’ head on the biggest waist, and all should follow in that order and do the same.
Eventually, they all crossed the river over to the other side without any of them, especially the little ones, getting drowned in the water. Yes, these antelopes learned to share the burden that the little ones would have gone through in the river. These antelopes also learned to encourage and console each other. Is this a good lesson for us to learn?
In the portion of the Book of Isaiah we reflect on this Sunday, the Prophet prophesied some special events as proof of the Age of the Messiah. In Jesus, these words of Isaiah are fulfilled; these words are recognised in Jesus. Isaiah foretold these words at the time the Jewish people were having their own identity crisis.
Their sacred city, Jerusalem, had been destroyed, and their leaders were in captivity in Babylon. Only the peasant farmers remained in the Holy Land to till the hard soil. The people were so discouraged and disappointed with their situation that they had no hope for their future prosperity. Isaiah, the Prophet of consolation and hope had the task of consoling and encouraging these desperate Jews in captivity/exile.
In our gospel reading, we hear that John the Baptist sent his disciples while in custody to inquire whether Jesus was the long-expected Messiah who had come. By John’s question, there is every indication that he, John, like the captive Jews in Babylon, was discouraged and disappointed.
He had served God and had pointed out Jesus as “The Anointed One” to people. But now, he is in prison and the one he pointed out as Messiah does not do what, according to John’s human thinking, should do: stand for justice, fight against injustices, he does not seem to condemn Herod for what he is doing, etc.
There was this political anxiety that the Messiah would be a political leader, leading the Jews to fight the Roman Authorities for their freedom. John did not see these and therefore had to send his disciples to Jesus for an explanation. Jesus’ answer, however, was that John should turn his eyes to the positive, not the negative aspects of the situation.
When we are going through difficult and hard situations, we should not only look at things negatively but try to appreciate such situations positively as well.
In today’s liturgy, both Isaiah and Jesus told their listeners that even though they are going through these hard, trying and difficult moments and times they should not lose hope but positively see things – yes, it is like they are at the end of their rope but they should have hope that God would turn the tables around for them. There would certainly be future prosperity where the “desert and parched land will exult…..rejoice and bloom…the blind will see, deaf hear…lame leap….”
We are encouraged by James in the second reading that in times, moments and situations of grief, disappointments and discouragement, we should patiently endure, make our hearts firm and not complain, for God, our just Judge, is always near to help and save us.
In Jesus, the Messianic Age has come where these prophecies are being fulfilled. He has the power to open the eyes of the blind, the ears of the deaf, and give strength to the lame. He is coming soon, and we also must ask him to cure us of our blindness, deafness and lameness, especially when certain things and experiences make us blind, deaf and dumb, and lame to God’s word as well as his love, goodness and healing mercies he has been bestowing upon us.
As Christians, we take the place of Jesus the Messiah on this planet. Therefore, we should not be:
(i) blind to the needs of people around us. We should open our eyes to see and help those in need, offer them pieces of advice, show friendship and love to the deserted and the unloved, comfort the sorrowful of heart and also appreciate the goodness others show us.
(ii) We should not turn a deaf ear to what other people say to us, particularly their cry for help and their requests. Some of us are too busy with our own things that very often we do not listen to people crying to us for help or crying to us to change.
(iii) We sometimes become lame when we are unable to go to people to share in their sorrows or even in their joys. Make a small move today to a sorrowful person to offer him/her consolation, comfort and assistance.
Let us reflect today in our lives and see, which areas need healing, so that we may come to Jesus to heal us. He indeed, wants to heal and purify us. Let us be open to him and give him permission to heal us and give us peace in our hearts.
Pray for patience to handle our difficult and hard situations and moments that each of us is going through in life, for God’s hand is around to cast his mighty blessings upon us. Amen. Stay blessed and have a fruitful 3rd Sunday of Advent.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, SUNDAY, ON THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES: ‘THE RESURRECTION, THE ASCENSION, THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE ASSUMPTION, AND THE CORONATION’. (WE PRAY FAITH, HOPE, LOVE OF GOD, GRACE OF A HAPPY DEATH AND TRUST IN MARY’S INTERCESSION) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “WE IMPLORE YOUR MERCY, LORD, THAT THIS DIVINE SUSTENANCE MAY CLEANSE US OF OUR FAULTS AND PREPARE US FOR THE COMING FEASTS. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!