HOMILY: Third Sunday of Advent (A)
Matthew 11:2-11
10 December 2022
Fr. Ricky C. Montanez, AA
Do you like being compared with other people? Ok sana kung mas maganda ka o mas pogi, mas matangkad, o mas matalino. What if people perceive you as the unfortunate one? Parang nakakasama ng loob pag ikaw pala yung dehado, hindi ba? Siyempre, gusto natin tayo ang lamado.
In today’s gospel passage, Jesus compares John the Baptist with other people. He speaks highly of him saying he is the greatest of all men. (Matthew 11:11) People went out to see a prophet and found more than what they were expecting. They had come to hear John relay what God wanted to say to His people but they did not expect such a special message. John had an extraordinary mission — to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah. “Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, he will prepare the way before you.” (Malachi 3:1) It was a unique privilege for John who came after a long line of prophets.
His greatness, however is in no sense the greatness we attribute to kings, accomplished warriors or great thinkers. Jesus Himself said, if you wish to see someone in fine clothing, John was not their guy. John lived a very simple life. The Bible tells us he lived alone in the desert, wore clothes of coarse camel’s hair and ate only locusts and honey. When Jesus says “I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John.” (Matthew 11:11), He is referring to the special role and connection he had with Jesus. He was Jesus’ cousin and the precursor of the Messiah. Si Juan Bautista ay tinaguriang “The Great Precursor”, ang tagapag-pauna. He recognized the Lord as early as an unborn infant leaping in the womb of his mother, Elizabeth, when Mary visited her. His role was to bring people to come to terms with their own sinfulness and to await the coming of the Messiah whom God sent to save them.
Jesus continues to say that despite John’s unique position, privilege, and mission, the least in the kingdom of heaven is still greater than he.” (Matthew 11:11) Who are the least in the kingdom? Sa tingin ko, tinutukoy ni Hesus ang mga karaniwang nilalang na makasalanan tulad natin. John did not have the opportunity to witness the wonders and miracles of Jesus. He did not have the chance to hear Jesus’ teachings. Take note that John was languishing in prison at the time when Jesus was doing all those wondrous deeds. Sapagkat siya’y nakapiit sa kulungan, malamang di niya napagmasdan ang mga nakakamanghang nagawa ni Hesukristo o narinig ang pagtuturo ni Hesus sa sinagoga o sa mga templo. In fact, in a passage from Matthew 13: 16-17, Jesus addresses the crowds and says, “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” Para kay Hesus, higit na lamado ang mga nakinig sa Kanyang salita at nakaranas ng Kanyang awa, pagpapagaling, pang-unawa, pagpapatawad, at pagmamahal. Sa panahon ngayon, atin pa ring napakikinggan ang salita Niya sa misa o kapag tayo’y nagbabasa ng Bibliya. We also continue to be witnesses of God’s love and mercy even in the ordinariness of each day. The world is never short of miracles. Sa gayon, tayo ay mabibilang din sa mga nakalalamang kay Juan Bautista!
Today is Gaudete Sunday. The Third Sunday of Advent is a moment of joyful anticipation. Dapat magsaya tayo kasi nakikilala natin si Hesukristo. Tinatanggap natin Siya bilang Diyos na nagkatawang tao upang tayo’y iligtas sa kasalanan. At inaasahan natin na tutuparin Niya ang pangakong Siya’y babalik muli. So many people in the world have not had the opportunity to get to know Jesus in their lifetimes. Today, we still have atheists and people of other religions who do not avail themselves of the living bread that fills all hungers and the living water that quenches all thirsts. How blessed we are to have that hope that our struggles are not in vain; that our sacrifices and efforts to live a life pleasing to the Lord will not go to waste simply because we trust Jesus when He said so.
Very seldom do we experience immediate gratification for being true and faithful followers of Christ. We trust that the fulfilment of God’s promises will come in God’s own time. Since no one knows the hour, except God the Father, it is in the best interest of all Christian believers to learn to wait for the day patiently and to continue to persevere till then. The kind of patient endurance required of us is described by James in the example of a farmer who waits for the crop to grow and mature. We know that farming is no easy occupation. The ripening of the crops depends upon various climactic patterns over which the farmer has no real control. While waiting for the crops to mature, he can remove stones and see to it that conditions for the crops to become fully-grown are in place. James reminds us that we have to “make our hearts firm” and that we “do not have to complain”. (James 5: 8-9) Instead, we have to live in love and in peace with one another!
We await the return of Jesus Christ, no longer as a suffering servant that dies on the cross, but a triumphant King to rule His people. Isaiah, in the First Reading describes what a joyful occasion this will be like and he likened it to the time when the exiled Israelites returned to their land. All peoples shall experience abundance and joy as they see the glory of the Lord and the splendour of God. Gaya ng awitin sa misa kapag Adbiyento… “Balang araw ang liwanag matatanaw ng bulag… mumutawi sa bibig ng mga pipi and awit ng lualhati… tatakbo ang pilay at lumpo.” All shall be restored and made whole. All sorrow and mourning will flee and all who have been saved, shall be crowned with everlasting joy!
More than the fear of the Final Judgment at the end of time, we who hope in Christ must look forward to that time with joyful anticipation. On that day, our King returns to vindicate us who have sacrificed and struggled and persevered in His name. Let us continue to pray for the grace to live temperately, responsibly and cheerfully as we patiently await the Second Coming of the Lord!
Sunday Gospel Reflections 