Walking with Jesus on the Third Sunday of Advent

For Sunday, December 14, 2025

Isaiah 35:1-6, 10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11


Christmas is fast approaching, and we’re “checking our list” twice (or more) to see what we need to do. And what about ourselves? HOW AM I DOING? How do I feel? What do I need from God for me — am I letting God love me or am I too busy to take time to do this? This weekend is a wonderful time to stop and take notice and realize that I am important to God, and I am loved.

So with 10 days before Christmas we pause on our journey to celebrate Gaudete Sunday: a Sunday of rejoicing. In addition to remembering my special gifts and people who have shared their gifts and love with me, I’m called to look at my life and my destination. My life is a blessing. God wants me here at this time because living my life in love NOW is the path that God has chosen as the BEST way for me to get to heaven. This is not conjecture — this is what Jesus promised. So I rejoice in knowing this. While the readings help, they’re not all scenes of peace and tranquility. On the one hand there is expanding, busy life and the extra problems that life brings, coupled with John the Baptist who is in prison and eventually will be beheaded by Herod at the request of his “wife,” Herodias.

(Background: Herodias’ primary sin is marrying her uncle, Herod Antipas, while her first husband is still alive — which is forbidden by Jewish Law. John the Baptist denounces her action, and in anger, Herodias convinces her daughter Salome to demand John’s beheading as a birthday gift. Herod complies so he won’t lose face with his advisors. This is a good reflection for each of us when we are tempted to live not in love but in fear.)

Isaiah offers a vision of Israel’s restoration after the Babylonian captivity. His first image describes a flowering wilderness that is presently lifeless but soon will have “abundant flowers and joyful song.” [Isaiah 35:2] The reversal represents God’s ability to bring life where there is none. How often has that happened to us — and when we “relive the moment” we find that we have “lived” the injective of “being strong and fearing not.” This “fear not” expression is found more than 365 times in the Scriptures. It is spoken by God or God’s messenger in an attempt to alleviate the natural fears one experiences in God’s presence and plans. I just can’t do this … righty, but with God all things are possible. Do I let God be God to me? Just as deprivation and infirmity are considered signs of evil in the world, so also are the transformations ... the dramatic changes in God’s presence and God’s victory over evil. As one biblical commentator says, “God had established the original order of creation, and all life began again to flourish.”

So how can each of us come to that frame of mind where we “let go and let God” as suggested by St. James (an apostle, not the brother of John — but who is referred to as the “brother of the Lord” and the “first bishop of Jerusalem?”) This letting go is accomplished primarily through patience — being patient in waiting for the coming of the Lord, the future coming of Christ at the end of time and the end of each of our lives. James describes this as waiting for the crop to grow. This has certain correlations. The ripening of the crops depends on seasonal rains that the farmer has no control over. He has to plant with knowledge of when the rains will come, and he has to work hard to prepare the fields — removing stones, plowing, etc. Preparing for the Lord is living a life in accord with Christian principles, which isn’t easy. Another admonishment warns against complaining about one another. Don’t we always find something to complain about? Don’t judge lest we be judged. James says we are to look to the prophets and guides to help us. Do we? Why not?

Matthew tells us that John the Baptist is waiting in prison. It’s not easy to wait — ask any mother awaiting birth. We men do have it easy. Well, John is waiting for the one who is to come, the Messiah. No angel comes to fill in the spaces; no blasts of heavenly help release him from prison. He does expect death because he spoke out. It’s just a matter of time; he waits in darkness really. Look at our lives: We pray for healing, for reconciliation with family or friend, we dwell in grief and loneliness. Even Christmas can be a lonely time for some of us. Jesus directs our attention to John. He waits in darkness ... he doesn’t have answers. Jesus says, look around you: “The dead are raised, and the poor have the good news (that God loves them) proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” [Matthew 11:4-5]

Advent is a time for quiet hopefulness. Isaiah says, “Be strong … fear not.” Each of us is waiting too. God is constantly revealing Himself to us, most especially in the love we share and the love that is showered upon us. We see His love in bigger ways — healings, forgiveness received, love shared — even in the soft sparkle of snow and the smile and laughter of little ones. All of these remove darkness. Am I grateful? Do I tell God about this?

So I reflect on:

• Sometimes I feel I’m sitting with John the Baptist as he waits for one to come. Where could I use more of God’s light today? In what situations could I use courage?
• What “small ways” have I seen that give me hope? 

Sacred Space 2026 states:

“John the Baptist constantly showed himself to be a really reliable companion and precursor to Jesus, but as we see in today’s Gospel, even he needed to be reassured at times. Is he having second thoughts? What we were once certain about perhaps now leaves us seeing things in a less black-and-white way.

“When we find our faith wavering, what methods do we have for regaining our confidence in you, Lord?”