Third Sunday of Advent, Year A – Gaudete Sunday - Nov 11, 2016
Readings: Is 35:1-6a.10; Responsorial Psalm Ps 146:6c-7.8-9a.9bc-10(R.cf.Is 35:4); James 5:7-10; Gospel Mat 11:2-11.
Theme: The Signs of Time and Imperative of Christ’s Coming!
Friends in Christ, the words of John the Baptist in the gospel (Mat 11:2-11) to Jesus through his disciples while he was in prison namely “Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?” appears scandalous. How can John, who was a forerunner of Jesus, be asking that kind of question? How can the person who gave tax collectors, prostitutes, soldiers and other categories of sinners the baptism of repentance in preparation for the coming one, whom he claimed was mightier than he, whose sandals he was not worthy to untie turn around to ask if Jesus was indeed the Messiah?
Well, we may be scandalised at the Baptist’s reaction and question but in reality, we are guiltier than John in many respects. What is our attitude to persecution, disease, sickness, death and poverty? How do we respond to the inability to get a job, pay our children’s school fees, house rent, PHCN bill or have three square meals per day? What do we make of the economic meltdown Nigeria is currently undergoing in the light of our faith?
