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Reflection From
Fr. John
December 14, 2025
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This Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent, we rejoice! Gaudete Sunday is a time of joyful
and hopeful anticipation for the coming of Christ at Christmas. It marks a shift from the penitential
feel of the first two weeks of Advent and focuses on the closeness of Christ’s coming at Christmas.
The readings for this week echo that spirit of joyful anticipation. Both the readings and the
Psalm focus on the nearness and the coming of the Lord. The First Reading mentions, “The desert
and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom…Be strong, fear not! Here is your
God, he comes with vindication…” (Isaiah 35:1,4) This prophecy of Isaiah proclaims the coming of
the Messiah and the great miracles that will accompany His arrival. At the coming of the Messiah,
Isaiah proclaims, “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then
will the lame leap like a stag,...” (Isaiah 35:5-6) The Psalm mentions a similar sentiment, “The LORD
gives sight to the blind; the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.” (Psalm 146:8) In the
Second Reading, St. James tells us, “Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at
hand.” (James 5:8)
In response to John the Baptist’s question about whether or not Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus responds in the
Gospel this week, “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 performed the miracles proclaimed by Isaiah in the First Reading. He fulfilled all of the Old Testament
prophecies. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind and made the deaf hear. He performed all these miracles and
more to bring about faith in Him as the Messiah and to heal our fragile humanity. Jesus today, through the actions of
His Holy Church and its ministers continues to be present to us and to manifest His healing power. He continues to heal
the sick, forgive sins and feed us with His Body and Blood through the gift of the Sacraments, in particular the Anointing
of the Sick, Reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist. Jesus Christ is present to us, and His power is manifest to us. He
desires to heal us physically, spiritually and emotionally. He knows what we need before we ask and what is truly best
for us and for our eternal Salvation. May we truly rejoice this Sunday and all the days leading up to Christmas, for Jesus
Christ, the Messiah and the lover of our souls is present to us and has come to heal us. He has come to be with us.
May we turn to Jesus and rejoice with Him, knowing that all things are possible for God and for those who place their
trust in Him.
Father John
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