St. Adelaide

Sunday, 16 December 2007
Third Sunday of Advent

Commentary of the day
Saint Gregory the Great : John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ in death as in life

Reading

Is 35,1-6.10.
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. The glory of Lebanon will be given to them, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; With divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared;

Then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the dumb will sing. Streams will burst forth in the desert, and rivers in the steppe. Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy; They will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.


Ps 146(145),6-7.8-9.9-10.
The maker of heaven and earth, the seas and all that is in them, Who keeps
faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets prisoners free; the LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.
The LORD protects the stranger, sustains the orphan and the widow, but thwarts the way of the wicked.
The LORD protects the stranger, sustains the orphan and the widow, but thwarts the way of the wicked.
The LORD shall reign forever, your God, Zion, through all generations! Hallelujah!


James 5,7-10. Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not complain, brothers, about one another, that you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates. Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.


Mt 11,2-11.
When John heard in prison of the works of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to him with this question, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me." As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: 'Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.' Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.


Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day

Saint Gregory the Great (c.540-604), Pope, Doctor of the Church
Gospel Homilies, no.6

John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ in death as in life

Why, after he had been imprisoned, did John the Baptist send his disciples to ask: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect another?” as though he did not know the very one to whom he had pointed?… This question is quickly answered if we examine the time and order in which events took place. On the banks of the Jordan John affirmed that Jesus was the Redeemer of the world (Jn 1,29); even so, after his imprisonment, he asked whether he was really the one who was to come. It was not that he doubted Jesus to be the Redeemer of the world, but he wanted to know whether he who had come in person into the world would also descend in person to the prison-house of the dwelling-place of the dead. Because he whom John had already announced to the world in his role as forerunner, he would also precede into the underworld by his death… It is as though he wanted to say clearly: “Just as you have deigned to be born for man’s sake, grant us to know whether you will also deign to die for him in such a way that, forerunner as I am of your birth so shall I also be of your death, and so that I may proclaim your coming to the dwelling places of the dead just as I have proclaimed your coming into the world.” This is the reason why the Lord’s answer, immediately after recounting the miracles wrought by his power, refers to his going down to death: “The blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offence at me!" Having witnessed so many signs and such great wonders no one has any reason to stumble but, rather, much to admire. Nevertheless, serious cause of scandal arose in the spirits of those who did not believe when they saw him die, even after so many miracles. Hence Paul’s words: “We proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,” (1Cor1,23)… So when the Lord says: “Blessed is the one who takes no offence at me" does he not clearly refer to the humiliation and lowliness of his death? It is as though he had said openly: “Yes, it is true that I do wonderful things but I don’t refuse to suffer what is humiliating on that account. Since I am going to follow John the Baptist by dying, let people who venerate in me my miracles take care not to despise me in my death.”