By: By Father Dominic Garramone, OSB

Third Sunday of Advent, Dec. 12

Isaiah 35:1-6a,10; Psalm 146: 6-7,8-9,9-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11

Many times the writing in the Bible is influenced as much by geography as by theology, and in the first reading from the book of Isaiah we have examples of both. The prophet uses images of abundant flowers and lush plants to describe the restoration of the parched southern kingdom of Judah, comparing it to the well-watered northern territories of Lebanon. By using this imagery that was familiar to his listeners, Isaiah paints a vivid picture of the power of God at work.

Were we to write such a passage for an Illinois winter, we might describe a future climate of sunny skies and warm breezes to contrast with the drab and freezing snowscape around us!

But later in the passage, Isaiah is also reacting to the prevailing theology of his day, in which physical ailments like blindness or deafness were considered God’s just punishments for sin. When God saves his people, his forgiveness and mercy will heal every hurt, right every wrong, and strengthen every weakness. These sentiments are echoed by the responsorial psalm, and definitively fulfilled by the life and ministry of Jesus.

SAVING POWER
Jesus reassures both John the Baptist and his disciples by referring to Isaiah’s prophecy in his answer to John’s anxious question: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” The miracles are meant to be proof of the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. We need to be careful not to focus too much on the miraculous deeds of Jesus, however, but on their meaning. They are a sign of the saving power of the Incarnation breaking into the world and transforming it, a manifestation of God’s merciful love healing the wounds of original sin and restoring the human race to righteousness.

The Gospel can also lead us to reflect on John’s question, and perhaps to apply it to our own view of Jesus: “Is Jesus the one who is to come, for me?” Do we really recognize Jesus as the fulfillment of all God’s promises? Or are we in fact looking for something else to “save” us — possessions, status, achievement, pleasure?

In a season that is too easily filled with distraction and excess, the liturgy challenges us to refocus on the real reason to rejoice on this Gaudete Sunday: “Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you.” (Isaiah 35:5)

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Father Dominic Garramone, OSB, is a monk of St. Bede Abbey in Peru, where he serves as subprior and choirmaster. He also heads the religion department and serves as drama director at St. Bede Academy. Contact him at FRDOM@st-bede.com.