Third Sunday of Advent (A)

December 15, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Isaiah 35: 1-6a, 10

Psalm 146 “Lord, come and save us.”

Second Reading: James 5: 7-10

Gospel reading according to Matthew 11: 2-11

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Homily:

John the Baptist was arrested and imprisoned by King Herod because John said to him that it is not good to take to himself his brother's wife, Herodias.  Even Herodias became mad at him and had grudges against John  When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to him with this question, 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?' (Matthew 11: 2-3).  In prison, John heard many things about his cousin Jesus as Christ, the anointed One or the Messiah, that Jesus had done many good works.  To know better and to make sure that Jesus was truly the One sent by God to save Israel of which he also waiting for his coming, he called his disciples in prison and told them to look for Jesus and asked him if he is the awaited one or not.

When the disciples found Jesus curing every kind of diseases and illnesses and performing the acts of mercy and compassion, they came to him and asked the question John would like to know regarding him.  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' (Matthew 11: 4-5).  Jesus did not show any dilly dally, nagpatumpik-tumpik pa, for he knew the urgency of John's question.  So, Jesus let the disciples of John see for themselves who he is, what he does, and what he says.  He let them witness 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 many others, as 'And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me' (Matthew 11: 6), as proof that it was he who were sent by the Most High God and Father the Almighty.  They were the living witnesses to John that he (Jesus) was truly the One who is to come.

Jesus praised John as true prophet in the desert.  Before the disciples of John left to report what they saw, experienced and learned, they also heard and listened to Jesus' exhortation about John.  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 the royal palaces.  Then why did you go out? To see a prophet?  Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet' (Matthew 11: 7-9).  Jesus said people go to the desert not to see reed swayed by the wind, or someone dressed fancy clothing whom they can only see in the palaces but not in the dusty, humid or hot desert, but to see and listen to a prophet.  And John who lives in the desert is the greatest prophets of them all.  For John was the prophet written in the primordial time to be, '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' (Matthew 11: 10), for John will be sent as a messenger (like an angel with a message of good news to the people) before the coming of the most awaited one, the Messiah, the Christ, and when he (John) comes ahead of him he will prepare the way of the Lord.  No one, even the greatest prophets of old were able to do what John has done during the coming of the Anointed One, Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God.

He even compared John to the sons of so many a women (mothers).  There were many great men born during the time of John but nobody surpassed his greatness, even from the leaders and elders of the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, the priests in the Temple in Jerusalem and those members of the Sanhedrin had no equal with John.   'Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist'; nevertheless he who is humble, kind, simple, poor, merciful 'yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he' (Matthew 11: 11).