THE MESSIANIC TIDINGS

Reflection for the 3^rd Sunday of Advent Year A

(Gaudete Sunday)

(Is 35:1-6, 10. James 5:7-10; Mt 11:2-11)

THE DRY LAND SHALL BE GLAD

“The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom...and rejoice with joy and singing.” The Prophet Isaiah used this analogy to describe the messianic blessings to come. Dry land presents different categories of unfruitfulness, hopeless, toughness and pain. “They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God.” He comes with recompense! Also, the coming of the Lord shall bring healing and freedom from bondage. Finally, the Prophet announced that the coming of the Lord shall bring joy. “The Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness...”

PATIENT-ENDURANCE

The voice of the prophet is still alive today. Our Advent—the expectation of a Christmas encounter—is loaded with such blessings that our longing for the Messiah is ever warm and alive. Thus every experience of ‘dry land’ quickens our advent steps as we match to behold Jesus. So the Second reading advises us to match with patience until the coming of the Lord. St James uses the analogy of a farmer who patiently looks forward to harvesting his crops. Thus the silent meditation of our hearts should be focused on the coming of the Lord. If we are wrapped in this patient expectation of the hour of grace—dawn of salvation—we will not grumble nor judge one another, for “Behold, the Judge is standing at the doors.” With patient-endurance we shall step on our every ‘dry land’, filled with hope and joy that God is with us!

 

THE MESSIANIC BLESSINGS

But this prophet, John the Baptist, is in prison! The precursor, who introduced the Messiah, has been reduced by human wickedness. He who lived in the desert, ate locust and honey, but had people around him, is now locked up in the city prison with only darkness as his neighbour. John the Baptist who was the ‘voice’ for the Messiah is now wondering if his message was true... “Are you he who was to come, or shall we look for another?” Jesus pointed out the messengers that the messianic blessings promised by Isaiah are now being fulfilled: “The blind receive their sight and the lame walk...” So dry lands are blossoming again! This can only happen with the presence of the Saviour.

As the messengers left, “Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John.” So he who lost his voice because of Christ has found his voice anew in Christ Jesus. While John the Baptist was in prison, Jesus stands out in the light for him, and defends his name and dignity. Though Herod tried to silence John, his voice continues to echo in Christ Jesus; though they took away his freedom in the dark prison, he remains free and shining in Light in Christ Jesus. John was treated with contempt, and death awaited him, but Jesus proclaimed him the ‘greatest among those born of women’, and announced his eternal place in the Kingdom of Heaven.

When we look at John the Baptist from the eyes of Herod, we see a man condemned, with no beauty or hope. It is a life in dry land, with neither refreshment nor fruitfulness. But when we see John from perspective of Jesus Christ, we understand deeper the prophecy of Isaiah about how the coming of the Messiah will make dry land to blossom and rejoice. We see a beauty, healing, greatness, freedom and life that no Herod can take away! This is the glory that Christmas brings—the messianic blessings—which we must look forward to with patient-endurance. Let us in silence focus meditate on these great tidings.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu,C.Ss.R

Ss Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Sunday December 15, 2019.