Third Sunday of Advent • Year A

Historical Collect

Lord Jesus Christ, give ear to our prayers, and lighten the darkness of our hearts by your gracious visitation; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Gregorian Sacramentary, 6th Century)

Thematic Collect

Gracious God, the Alpha and Omega, our beginning and our end, may your Spirit kindle in us patience and strength and endurance in the face of suffering, as well as love and mercy toward our neighbors that reflects your own. We pray in Jesus’ name, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Common Thread

Oh, what fools sinners are. And being poor sinners ourselves, we are such fools. Yet even foolish sinners will never go astray if they walk in the Way of Holiness. Where is this road; how do we find it? Is it a highway built by kings or princes, nations or peoples? Or is it the roadway of he who watches over all sojourners? Is God himself the Way of Holiness? Jesus said he is the way (John 14:6). So, let us look to the Lord himself—not to a way of life, of living pious lives. The Lord is coming. Be patient. Ground your hearts in God’s word; strengthen your faith by trusting in the Lord. He is coming for poor, foolish sinners such as ourselves, who walk in the Way of Holiness who is Jesus Christ the Savior of the World.

First Reading • Isaiah 35:1–10

God is coming with vengeance (v. 4). This may be either bad or good news. It depends upon whose side you are on — if on God’s side, all is well. Terrible though his coming be, God comes to save you. If one does not stand with God, however, the decree is one of terror. Therefore, the task at hand is to stand, to make ready for his coming. Get those knees firm and strengthen your hands (v. 3), because if you stand with God, there is no need for fear. When he comes, the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will leap, the mute will speak.

He is the way through the wilderness. The Holy Highway of God is the road of the redeemed. The ransomed of the Lord will return to him with joy. This is what we remember in Advent: God has made a way. Indeed, he is the way.

Psalm • Psalm 146:1–10

There is a King whom you may trust, but do not put your trust in earthly kings, whose lives will end and their political promises and plans along with them. There is a Ruler who never dies; his promise is sure and his plan unfolding. He reigns forever, and the hungry are fed, the prisoners go free, and the blind see.

Second Reading • James 5:7–11

When will the King return and execute his vengeance? We observe Advent and celebrate Christmas year after year, but the poor are still poor and the afflicted still die and there is yet to be peace on earth. The word of the Apostle is difficult: Be patient. Somehow there is blessedness in such endurance. This does not differ from the words of the Lord himself: “Blessed are you when ...” (Matt. 5:1-11). Having patience is more bearable in trying times when we remember why we are blessed. It is not only because we may expect the great reward of heaven (Matt. 5:12), but because Jesus also endured. Therefore he understands our weakness and stands with us (Heb. 4:15). We are blessed as we patiently wait because Jesus is with us, seemingly more closely when we are suffering than when we are not.

Gospel • Matthew 11:2–15

Even John the Baptist grew disheartened. His faith wavered. “Are you really the awaited Messiah or should we look elsewhere?” Jesus reminded him and reminds us today that what was foretold had come to pass. The good news is true. Yet John may have been looking for the wrong kind of Christ. If he expected him to look like Herod or any other king, he would have been wrong. If he expected him to act like Herod or other kings, he would be equally wrong.

John expected and preached fairly immediate results, and though the poor were given good news and people were healed, the oppression of God’s people continued. John himself sat in prison for preaching this very good news. Jesus may not look like what we expected. His rule may not be unfolding our way or at our desired pace. Yet, blessed is the one who is not offended by the Lord. One day it will be clear why God does things in his way and not ours. Until then, we must patiently await his coming.