December 14, 2025; 3rd Sunday of Advent (Year A)

Readings: Isaiah 35:1-6; James 5:7-10; Mt. 11:2-11

Rejoice, the Lord is Near!

Today is Gaudete Sunday, named after the entrance antiphon: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice! The Lord is near.” (Philippians 4:4). St. Paul, writing to the Philippians from prison, encouraged them to rejoice in the Lord, a joy that his imprisonment could not diminish.

The second reading encourages us to be patient as we await the coming of the Lord. Just as a farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, we, too, must strengthen our hearts because the coming of the Lord is near.

This theme of hope and patient waiting is echoed by the Prophet Isaiah in the first reading. Isaiah addressed the Jews who were in captivity in Babylon, grieving the loss of their freedom, property, homeland, and temple. Their hope of returning home seemed bleak. In response to their sorrow, Isaiah prophesied: “The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the feeble hands, make firm the weak knees, say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not!” He foretold healing for the sick, the blind, and the lame, echoing the Psalmist who said, “Tears may flow in the night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5).

 Isaiah’s vision of prosperity and peace is a dream and undying faith shared across generations. We dream that, in this brutal and cruel world, we will one day find peace, its defaced beauty restored, its wounds healed, and its sorrows lifted. God will open a path leading his people home, where all people will praise Him with one heart and mind. In the gospel, Christ sent a message of hope to John in prison, and to the poor and hopeless of this world: ‘Tell John what you hear and see’, “The blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers and cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” (Matt. 11:5).

Despite this message of hope, we sometimes feel like the children of Israel. At times, we feel like we have reached the end of our rope with no light in sight. We have tried everything, and nothing seems to work. John the Baptist must have felt that way, too. He preached repentance with a sense of urgency, calling the Jews to act quickly and bear the fruits of repentance. He fearlessly confronted kings and queens, yet he ended up in Herod’s prison. Why did Christ, the Messiah, not show him mercy and free him from jail? John likely felt like Elijah, who, after performing works, fled from his enemies and prayed to God to take his life. (1Kings 19:4). Thus, John sent messengers to Christ asking: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” (Matt. 11:3). Jesus reminded us through his response to John that God’s ways are not our ways; though the kingdom of God may be slow to arrive, it will certainly come. Our destiny may be delayed, but it is not denied.

Dear friends, in whatever situation you may find yourselves today, know that God is right there with you. Your liberation and freedom are within reach. Don’t be discouraged. The struggles you face and the eventual triumph of good over evil put this third week of Advent into perspective for us

So, rejoice and be patient at the same time. The birth of Christ will change the course of your life. There is no reason to doubt or feel discouraged when things do not go your way. God is still in control! Rejoice in the Lord always, for He is near. Remember “Affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Rom. 5:3-5). May the third week of Advent lead us to the joy of Christmas.

Points to ponder:

Have you read the 14^th chapter of St. Luke’s Gospel today? Maybe later?

If you have doubts like John the Baptist, feed your doubt with God’s word, don’t be sad, trust Him!

“Don’t forget to pray today because God didn’t forget to wake you up this morning.”

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP