Reflection on the Readings for Third Sunday of Advent - Year A
Read Readings
As I read—and even before I read—I could not help but feel overcome by the sense that the biggest thing is about to happen: the one thing God has been laboring toward with us, namely the fulfillment of every covenant, God among us; what was destroyed in our sins and the sins of others beginning to be undone; people who once sneered now rejoicing in communion. It is much like last Sunday’s reading from Isaiah 11, which highlights how those naturally opposed to each other will come to rest in peace and share in each other’s good.
This Sunday brings that curve to a local maximum, as the Entrance Antiphon for Mass begins: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near.” In my heart, as I think about singing that, it feels like a beautiful trumpet blast that invites one to tears of hopefulness at the goodness about to unfold.
Our passage from Isaiah speaks to this as it prophesies the undoing of every human affliction—not merely a calm return to normal, but an overwhelming renewal. The lame “will leap,” not merely stand. It ends with the image of ransom—being bought out of slavery—and then what follows: being crowned with everlasting joy, while sorrow and mourning flee away. Aquinas speaks into this when he discusses grace: not only is human nature healed of the affliction, burden, and weakness caused by sin, but it is elevated and endowed with a potency we did not previously possess.
The responsorial Psalm builds upon this theme. Its response, “Lord, come and save us,” is paired with verses proclaiming that He does save—certainly in part now, though not completely until we are brought to Him (should His grace find us cooperative). The Psalm even concludes by proclaiming His special care and providence for the poorest—those lacking wealth, community, and protection, such as the widow and the orphan—and His undoing of evil designs.
The second reading instructs us in truly Christian, joyful hope. Much of Scripture echoes this theme of being vigilant for the Lord’s coming: His first coming, which we recall; His coming into our hearts now; and His final coming to earth in the future, which will complete all that remains unfinished in the first two. It uses the image of a farmer waiting for the harvest. Although not all of us are farmers, we can appreciate the anticipation of completing a central life project—of reaching the moment when we launch ourselves into joyful action for which we have labored and prayed. May the Lord find us this eager to see Him.
In the Gospel, Jesus quotes the Scripture of the first reading and effectively says, “It is happening; the time is here,” and He identifies John the Baptist as the last herald of this great work beginning while calling to mind the greatest one must pursue in order to be in Heaven and still more among the greats.
My invitation to you, dear reader, is to feel that hope in your heart: like a runner ready to begin the race toward Christ, to love Him the moment the buzzer sounds. Prepare yourself for that solemn joy proper to the coming of Christ in all three of His comings—especially His coming into the barn or cave that is so often our hearts.
