Homily – Deacon Joe Oberting December 14, 2025 – Year A - Sun10 Advent3 - Gaudete Sunday - Rejoice!

R1: Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10 The desert and the parched land will exult. Rejoice!

Psalm 146 “Lord, come and save us.” R2: James 5:7-10 Be patient until the coming of the Lord

Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11

As my wife, Melanie and I were walking to our car on Friday evening following a concert, she said: “I hope in heaven that there is beautiful singing all the time.” I imagine there will be - and so much more! Think of what you imagine it will be like. What will heaven be like? Isaiah gives us some ideas. “The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers and rejoice with joyful song.” We know what a desert looks like. A steppe s-t-e-p-p-e is a large grassland with no trees. If it is very dry, any grass will be brown and sort of ugly. Isaiah describes the exultation of the land and its “rejoicing” - blooming with abundant flowers at the coming of the Lord. That may be what heaven will be like. Isaiah uses the word rejoice twice. We now begin the third week of Advent. We are over halfway there! Even the Advent wreath, and our vestments glow with anticipation, as seen by the pink or rose colors. Excitement! Ah. But we must be patient. Both now, for this Christmas, and for the Lord’s return - his Second Coming. There is a beautiful word for the Second Coming: parousia.

The parousia. James is our second reading for today. This is one of the Letters of the New Testament, being in the NT, we know he was a witness of Jesus’ time on earth. We don’t think he was one of the 12 apostles, but certainly one of Jesus’ followers - a disciple. One who embraced Jesus personally, and now living after Jesus’ ascension. “Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord.” James describes our patience must be like that of a farmer who has planted the seeds in the field - and then must wait - for the early…and the late rains, until the crops have grown and borne fruit, and are ready for 1 harvesting. Be patient. How long? How long must we wait? Until the coming, until the parousia of the Lord. Until that time, we are to live our lives, care for each other, persevere through tough times and good times, looking forward to the life of the world to come. Hopefully, now is a period of good times for us. If it is, then we can be in a position to help someone else who is not experiencing good times right now. If we are going through rough times now, we can look to others for help, our fellow brothers and sisters. In either case, perhaps we can look to the example of John the Baptist (point out his image). He is the patron saint of our parish. In Matthew’s gospel today, John the Baptist is not going through good times. He is in prison. John was the forerunner of Christ.

He has fulfilled his purpose - to prepare the way of the Lord. Remember where he came from. He is the child in the womb of Elizabeth when Mary comes to visit just after her encounter with the angel Gabriel, where he announced that she would bear a child and name him Jesus. When Mary arrives at her cousin’s place the child ‘leaps in her womb’. Literally, John is six months older than Jesus, although at the Visitation both had yet to be born. Later, just as Jesus is about to begin his ministry he comes again to John and requests to be baptized in the river Jordan. John is humble (describe his humility). John ultimately says, ‘I must decrease, so he may increase’. (Describe the time of year we celebrate each of their births). We may wonder now with today’s question from John: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Doesn’t he know? He thinks he does, but perhaps he has a small bit of doubt remaining. Maybe? Perhaps the question is more for John’s disciples, so they will know. Perhaps it is because Jesus seems to never answer a question directly. Even today. Jesus doesn’t say ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Jesus says: “Go and tell John what you hear and see.: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, and the dead are raised.” These are all scenes we are very 2 familiar with in Jesus’ life on earth.

Look at what I have done. Who else could do such things? (repeat and pause). Jesus goes on to challenge everyone present. “What did you go out to see?” “A reed swayed by the wind? Someone in fine clothing? A prophet?” Oh, yes! More than a prophet! “He was my messenger. He prepared my way.” In other words, he was the prophet about whom other prophets spoke. Let’s apply this to ourselves here in 2025. Do we believe? Do we still have some doubts? How can we be sure? Open our hearts. Let him in. Relax. Rejoice. Be patient. Behold again, his great gift. Jesus humbled himself in his divinity to become one of us, in our humanity. Pray for the gift of faith. We have so much to look forward to! We get to cooperate, to participate, in his creation. Each child is a gift from God. Each birth is a miracle! We welcome children into our lives. They remind us of the innocence we have lost. Let’s regain some of that this Advent.

Like John, let’s not be a reed swayed by the wind, but firm and confident, able to withstand the winds that will come. Let’s receive Him again today in the Eucharist with open hearts and minds. Allow the One who made us - to direct our lives for good. May we gain insight with our imaginations, through faith and trust. In whom can we trust? Jesus. Jesus, I trust in you.” So, will there be beautiful singing in heaven? Answer: Have you ever been moved by a beautiful voice? Has a song ever seemed to have embedded itself into your soul? Has scripture not described a choir of angels in heaven?