TRANSFORMED BY OUR INFINITE AND ALL-LOVING GOD
Third Sunday Advent, Year A

1 Reading: Isaiah 35:1-6, 10
Response: Lord, come and save us.
2 Reading:  James 5:7-10
Gospel:  Matthew 11:2-11

We are now very close to celebrating the Solemnity of the Lord’s Nativity—Christmas—less than two weeks away. The Lord is near and coming quickly, as the liturgy of the Church keeps reminding us throughout this season of Advent. This is the recurring theme of these sacred days: the nearness of the Lord.

This nearness should bring deep comfort to every believer. The Redeemer of all people is coming, desiring that we share in true and everlasting life. Christ our God came among us as a human being—living, toiling, suffering for us, sharing our existence in its fullness. In doing so, He showed us how to live and how to give ourselves entirely in love and service to God and to one another.

Christ’s coming teaches us that the greatest gift we can offer is the gift of self. In His own words, we must “lose ourselves” to truly find ourselves. This is the paradox of Christian life: by surrendering our lives in love, we discover their deepest meaning. Fulfillment is not achieved by grasping, but by giving; not by possession, but by communion with Christ who dwells in our hearts.

The readings assigned for the Third Sunday of Advent remind us just how near the Lord is, and how rich and fragrant the mystery of His coming truly is. Rose—the color of the vestments for this day—is the color of joy, symbolizing the fragrance of divine grace. Our Mother Church, in her wisdom, invites us to pause in the midst of Advent’s penitential tone and to rejoice. The rose vestments, like the first light of dawn breaking through the purple of night, remind us that God’s promise is near fulfillment.

In the first reading, the Prophet Isaiah bursts forth in joy, proclaiming the transformation of all creation: deserts bloom, dry lands are refreshed, feeble hands are strengthened, and frightened hearts are consoled. God’s coming changes everything—it restores, renews, and gives life where there was once barrenness. Isaiah’s words are not only for ancient Israel but for us as well, for we too long for renewal and redemption.

In its historical context, Isaiah was speaking to the exiled Jews, longing to return home to Jerusalem after years of captivity in Babylon. Yet his message transcends time and circumstance. We, too, are exiles in a sense—estranged by sin, wandering far from the peace of God’s presence. Advent invites us to begin our own homecoming: to return to the God who made us, to the One who alone can satisfy our restless hearts.

The Gospel this Sunday again focuses on the Lord’s coming—sure, swift, and filled with mercy. Wherever there is love, there is God, for God is Love. And where love dwells, light conquers darkness, and hope overcomes despair. The power of light cannot be defeated by the lesser power of sin and error.

Christ comes to be with us always, just as He promised. But His coming also brings a call—to extend His love to all people: to the poor and the rich, the sick and the healthy, the young and the old. Christ comes not simply to comfort us, but to change us—to be our light in darkness, our strength in weakness, and our joy in every sorrow.

Saint James, in the second reading, offers us a precious virtue for this season: patience. He exhorts believers to “be patient until the coming of the Lord.” Patience is born of love, for it means trusting in God’s timing rather than our own. It means enduring delays, uncertainties, and hardships without losing faith. We need patience not only with others, but with life itself—with our health, our work, our future, and even our spiritual growth. As Saint Benedict wisely teaches, we must “never despair of God’s mercy.”

Every spiritual journey requires patience and perseverance. Holiness is not achieved in a moment, but through consistent fidelity—keeping the commandments, fulfilling our duties, striving daily to do what is right. We may stumble, but we rise again, strengthened by grace, encouraged by the sacraments, and supported by the community of faith.

We must never give up, even when the struggle seems long or our hearts grow weary. It is often when we come face to face with our weakness that we are most ready to receive divine help—the gentle, healing hand of God. What God asks of us is a humble, contrite heart, open to His transforming grace. “A broken, humbled heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:17).

In this spirit of hope, we ask God to grant us serenity and patience, that we may hear His voice each day, calling us to love without measure and to serve without counting the cost. To lose ourselves in love is to be found in God’s own life.

At the heart of this mystery is the Eucharist, where we celebrate the supreme act of divine love—the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Here, in this sacred banquet, we receive not only Christ’s presence but also His strength to give ourselves in love for God and for one another.

As we continue our Advent journey, may we carry within us a spirit of quiet joy and gentle expectation. The Lord is near. Let us prepare our hearts to meet Him—not with fear, but with gratitude and love.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice—for the Lord is truly near!