Homily 3rd Sunday of Advent Year A I Homily 14 December 2025 Year A

https://youtu.be/yfeyTAAO454




My dear friends, today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent—Gaudete

Sunday—a day filled with joy and hope as we draw closer to Christmas. Our

readings invite us to trust in God’s promise, wait with patience, and prepare our

hearts with humility for the coming of the Lord.




The first reading taken from the prophet Isaiah is one of the most beautiful passages

of hope in the Old Testament. It was spoken to people who were living through great

pain and uncertainty, most likely addressed to the people of Judah either during or

after the Babylonian Exile. Their city had been destroyed, their temple burned, and

they were forced to live far from home. Everything around them felt like a dry, lifeless

desert. Into this darkness, the prophet Isaiah brings a powerful promise: God will

make the desert bloom. The wilderness—symbol of pain, loss, and emptiness—will

burst into flowers and joy. He speaks of weak hands becoming strong, fearful hearts

being encouraged, and people being told, “Do not fear, your God is coming.” This

reminds the people that God is not distant or silent. He is actively working to bring

salvation. The miracles described—blind eyes opening, deaf ears hearing, the lame

leaping, and mute tongues singing—show that God’s restoration is total. He heals

not only the land but the people themselves and this healing ends with a greater

promise: all the tears of exile—sorrow, fear, shame—will fade away, replaced by

lasting peace. Isaiah invites us to believe that God can bring life to our dry places.

When we feel lost, tired, or discouraged, God promises renewal. He can strengthen

our weak hearts, open our eyes to hope, and lead us toward joy. Just as He guided

the exiles back home, He walks with us, turning our deserts into gardens and our

mourning into gladness. This passage, often read during Advent, points forward to

God’s coming in Christ, who embodies this hope and healing for all humanity.​

In the second reading taken from the letter of James, he speaks directly to Christians

who were experiencing hardship, injustice, and disappointment. Many early believers

were poor, oppressed by wealthy landowners, and waiting for Christ’s return with

growing frustration. Into this situation, James gives one central message: be patient

and stand firm. God has not forgotten you. James uses the image of a farmer

waiting for rain. In ancient Israel, farmers depended completely on the early

autumn rains and the late spring rains. They could not force the rain to come; they

could only trust, wait, and keep working the land. In the same way, James

encourages believers to trust that God is at work even when they can’t see

immediate results. Patience in the Christian life is not passive—it is hopeful, active

waiting. He also says, “Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is

near.” It means living with constant awareness that God’s justice, mercy, and victory

are always moving toward us. Every moment can be lived with purpose and hope

because God is not distant. James warns believers not to grumble against one

another. Hard times can make communities turn inward, blame each other, or become bitter. Instead, James calls them to unity and compassion. God’s judgment is not meant to scare but to remind them of accountability—how we treat others matters deeply to God. Finally, James points to the prophets as examples of courageous endurance. They suffered, were misunderstood, and sometimes felt

alone, yet they remained faithful to God’s voice. Their lives show that waiting with

trust is itself a form of holiness. This passage invites us to slow down, breathe, and

trust God’s timing. When situations feel stuck or prayers seem unanswered, we are

not abandoned. God is forming patience, strength, and compassion within us. Like

the farmer, we keep tending the soil of our lives, believing that the rains will come

and that God’s promises will bear fruit in the right season.

A young musician once dreamed of becoming the lead performer in a famous

orchestra. He imagined the spotlight, applause, and recognition. But when he finally

joined the orchestra, he was assigned to play a supporting instrument—small, barely

noticed. At first, he felt disappointed. But over time he realised something beautiful:

when he played his part faithfully, even if it was just a few quiet notes, the whole

orchestra sounded complete. Without his small contribution, the grand performance

would have felt empty. Greatness, he discovered, isn’t always in leading—it’s in

faithfully playing the role given.

Something similar happens in today's gospel taken from Matthew. John the Baptist,

now sitting in a dark prison cell, begins to wonder if Jesus truly is the Messiah. John

expected a fiery, dramatic figure—a Messiah who would overthrow evil with force.

Instead, Jesus was healing, teaching gently, eating with sinners, and showing mercy.

John sends his disciples to ask, “Are you the one?” It is a deeply human

moment—full of doubts, questions, and longing for clarity. Jesus responds with

reassurance. He tells John’s disciples to look at the signs: the blind see, the lame

walk, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor receive good news. These

actions reveal the heart of God’s kingdom—one built not on spectacle, but on

compassion and healing. Then Jesus turns to the crowd and does something

remarkable: He praises John. Jesus does not praise easily. His compliments are

rare, and given only to people of great faith and integrity. John is called the greatest

“born of women” because he knew who he was. He understood his mission. He had

immense popularity, yet he had the humility to say, “He must increase, and I must

decrease.” John was great not because he took the spotlight, but because he

willingly stepped out of it.

Like John the Baptist, we too are called to prepare the way of the Lord. This does

not always mean doing extraordinary things. Sometimes preparing the way of the

Lord looks like forgiving someone in the family. Sometimes it means being patient

with a struggling child or elderly parent. Sometimes it means choosing kindness

instead of reacting in anger. And sometimes it means accepting the role of a

supporting actor —helping others grow, pointing people to Jesus, and serving quietly

but faithfully. Each of us must discern: What is my purpose? What role has God

given me? This Gospel invites us to trust God’s surprising ways. Greatness in God’s

eyes comes through humility, faithfulness, and understanding our unique mission.

When we embrace our role—big or small—and point others to Christ, we too help

prepare the way of the Lord. This week, ask yourself: Where is God inviting me to

bring hope? Where is He asking me to wait patiently? Where is He calling me to step

aside so Christ can shine? May God bless us all.