THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR A, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Isaiah 51:1-6a, 10; Psalm 146:6-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11

The Third Sunday of Advent is called 'Gaudate' Sunday, meaning, Sunday of Joy. 'Gaudate' is a Latin word which means rejoice. The entrance antiphon of today’s Mass, taken from Philippians 4:4-5, invites us, “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice.” In the first week of Advent, we reflected on Christ our hope. In the second week we reflected on Christ our peace. In this third week, we light the pink candle which symbolizes joy. We pray for restoration of joy to those who have little or no joy in their lives; especially for those, as Pope Francis puts it, whose lives seem like “Lent without Easter.” Pope Francis encourages us to pray for the joy which enables wheat to grow amongst weeds and the light of the Holy Spirit to radiate amid darkness. May the joy of the Lord be our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

The first reading brings out clearly the theme of today’s celebration. “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” (Isaiah 35:1-2). Life is like a desert or a parched land where there is no joy.

The joy we are reflecting on and praying for, is not given by worldly possessions and pleasures. One can lack worldly possessions but still be filled with joy. One may be encountering deprivations of life and yet be filled with joy. One can have all worldly possessions but lack joy. We can see that the world is more developed now than in the past but less happy now than in the past. Someone says, “It’s look like the more money we come across, the more problems we see.”

What is this joy? It is the gladness that comes from interior contentment and serenity which we experience when we are close to God, when we surrender to him, when we trust in him, when we are guided by his words and precepts, and when we are directed by the promptings of the Holy Spirit. This joy is divinely given. Therefore, we need to be close to the Giver in order to receive it! The psalmist says, “To be near God is my happiness” (Psalm 73:28). Void and sadness overshadow where the joy of the Lord is lacking. Such a state leads to destructive attitudes.    

While John the Baptist was in prison, Jesus did not challenge Herod to release John. Most likely, John was disappointed and doubted that if Jesus was the savior, he could have rescued him from prison. Maybe, John was disappointed that he had not seen Jesus’ baptism of fire and Holy Spirit on the people which he prophesied. Maybe, John was disappointed that the severe judgement of the “brood of vipers” was not happening, rather, Jesus attended banquets hosted by the “brood of vipers” and tax collectors. Maybe, John was disappointed when he compared himself, who lived in the desert, wore clothing made of camel’s hair, ate locusts and wild honey, with Jesus’ life style. Maybe, considering all these, John was disappointed and doubted that Jesus was the one he prophesied about that was coming after him that was mightier than himself whom he said he was not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. Therefore, in his disappointment and doubt John sent messengers to ask Jesus, “Are you the one to come, or are we to wait for another?”

Does someone lack joy because he or she is in a situation of frustration, disappointment, and doubt due to difficult life issues which he or she has no grasp of and which are beyond his or her comprehension or control? Does someone lack joy because his or her plan failed or has not worked out yet? Does anyone lack joy as he or she wonders God’s presence or absence in a painful situation? Let the person pray, as Pope Francis tells us, for the joy which enables wheat to grow amongst weeds and the light of the Holy Spirit to radiate amid darkness.

Today, Jesus encourages us, “Blessed is the one who takes no offense at me” (Matthew 11:6). Another translation says, “Blessed is the one who does not lose faith in me.” St. James tells us in the second reading, “You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:8). Isaiah encourages us in the first reading, “Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, … Be strong, do not fear!” (Isaiah 35:3-4).

May God’s words, as Isaiah prophesies in the first reading, come to fulfilment for those who do not take offense and those who do not lose faith: “Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. Then, the eyes of the blind shall see, and the ears of the deaf be opened, then, the lame shall leap like a stag (a male deer), and the mute tongue sing for joy” (Isaiah 35:4-6).

Jesus invites us to bring all our spiritual and physical afflictions to him. He assures us in today’s gospel that the blind will regain their sight, the lame will walk, lepers will be cleansed, the deaf will hear, the dead will be raised, and the poor will have the good news proclaimed to them (Matthew 11:5-6).

Jesus says, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). The joy “… no one will take from you” (John 16:22). May it be so for you and for me. Amen. 

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR A, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Romans 15:4-9; Matthew 3:1-12

Today, we light the second purple candle called the Candle of Peace. During the second week of our Advent journey, we pray for peace in our hearts, in our homes, in our communities, in our society, in our church, in our country, and in our world. Jesus Christ, whose birthday we are preparing to celebrate, is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) and “He is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14).

We pray for the repentance of those who cause insecurity and violence in our society and those who cause war in our world. The worsening situation of insecurity, violence, crimes, and wars is because some leaders of communities and countries are blinded by insincerity and selfish interests. Some of them are accomplices to various wars and heinous crimes against humanity. For instance, the insecurity and killings in Nigeria, and the war between Russia and Ukraine will end in no time if leaders tackle the causes with fairness and justice. Truly, every corner of the earth will know peace if leaders eschew selfish interests but adopt the path of fairness and justice.

In the first reading, Prophet Isaiah presents an imagery of the harmony that exists where there is peace: “Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat; the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them. The cow and the bear shall graze, together their young shall lie down; the lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the viper’s den, and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair. They shall not harm or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the Lord, as water covers the sea.”

God has blessed us with different strengths, talents, gifts, charisms, temperaments, feelings, desires, colors, races, tribes, resources, religions, beliefs, and so on. Each blessing should be for helping, supporting, and building up of one another.  God’s blessings are never for harming or destroying others. Sadly, this is not the case around the world. What we see is “might is right.” We pray for victims of injustice, violence, and war. We pray for God’s intervention and restoration.

St. Paul prays for peace in the second reading, “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think harmony with one another, in keeping with Jesus Christ, that with one accord you may with one voice glorify God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Note St. Paul’s choice of words in his message of peace: “think harmony,” “with one accord,” “with one voice,” “welcome one another.” Can we apply these beginning with ourselves, our homes, our community, and so on?

In today’s gospel, we read the prophecy of Isaiah about John the Baptist, “A voice of one crying out in the desert, prepare the way for the Lord, make straight his paths.” Deserts are impassable due to thorns and thistles, hills and gullies, sand and stones. Deserts do not have straight paths. To make a straight path, thorns and thistles need to be cleared, hills leveled, and gullies filled with sand and stones. In the same way, spiritual thorns and thistles, hills and gullies, sand and stones (our sins and sorrows) are a hinderance to the spiritual re-birth of Christ in us. Let us avail ourselves of the opportunities of Advent’s spiritual exercises to prepare the way for the Lord and make straight his paths into our lives.

For us, followers of Christ, let us not be distracted or carried away by the heightened social and commercial activities of Christmas celebration.  Over and above the social and commercial activities are the spiritual benefits of Christmas, that is the re-birth of Christ in our lives and the new persons we become as a result of the re-birth. If the spiritual preparation is excluded, the celebration loses its spiritual meaning and power.

John the Baptist says to us in the gospel, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” He adds, “Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.” How does one recognize good fruits in him or her? Some good fruits are, closeness to God, improved life of prayer, forgiveness, reconciliation with estranged relationships, Sacrament of Reconciliation, works of mercy, works of charity, and so on. St. Paul mentions more fruits in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

We conclude with praying with the first reading: May the spirit of the Lord rest upon us, a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord and the delight of the fear of the Lord. Through the unction of the spirit of the Lord, may we produce lasting good fruits. Amen.

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR A, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122:1-9; Roman 13:11-14; Matthew 24:37-44

This Sunday marks the beginning of the Advent season and the beginning of the readings of Circle A of a new liturgical year (Year A).

Prior to Vatican II, the Catholic Church followed a single and a yearly cycle of readings that are repeated every year. The Sunday readings were read through the week. Weekday Masses did not have their own readings. For this reason, many passages and books of the Bible were left out and not read at Mass. Following the reforms of Vatican II (1962 to 1965), the Catholic liturgical year and the lectionary for Sundays and weekdays were divided into a three-year cycle (A, B, and C), in order to include almost all the books of the Bible over the course of a three-year period. This began in 1970.

Advent season is observed as a time of special preparation to mark the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a penitential, soul-searching, and spiritual reawakening journey to renew us to welcome the “Word Made Flesh.” The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word “adventus,” which means “coming.”

Many churches are decorated with Advent wreath from this first Sunday of Advent. In ancient cultures, wreaths symbolized victory, honor, and achievement, particularly in Greece and Rome. Athletes and soldiers were crowned with wreaths as awards. However, the use of Advent wreath to decorate churches is said to have begun among the Lutherans in Germany in the 16th century, from where it spread to other Christian Faiths.

Advent wreath further explains the meaning of Advent season:

The green wreath in circle shape symbolizes God’s eternity and everlasting life (Psalm 90:2). The candle light symbolizes Jesus, the light of the world (John 8:12). The four candles symbolize the four weeks of Advent. The first purple candle is called the Candle of Hope. “In his name, the nations will put their hope” (Matthew 12:21). The second purple candle is called the Candle of Peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). “He is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14). The third candle, pink in color, is the called the Candle of Joy. “Fear not, for I bring you good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10). The third purple candle, which is the fourth candle, is the called Candle of Love. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him may not perish, but have life eternal” (John 3:16).

The array of purple color of Advent season reminds us that the season is a penitential and a sobering journey. Also, Advent purple color foreshadows the sovereignty and the royalty of Christ. Purple was a royal color.

We are glad that Christmas excitement is felt everywhere. However, we must not allow ourselves be drawn into the world’s commercialization of Christmas. For us Catholics, spiritual preparation is more important so that there will be an inn for Jesus in our lives this Christmas. Spiritual preparation makes every Christmas become the first Christmas.

In the first reading, Isaiah invites us to a soul-searching Advent journey: “Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths…. Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.” The prophet tells us the transformation which those who make this journey faithfully receive: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.” This means that those who “walk in the light of the Lord” are transformed from weapons of crises, division, and hate to instruments of reconciliation, peace, and harmony.

The Advent journey, not only prepares us for spiritual renewal, it also prepares us for Jesus’ coming to take us to our eternal home. In the gospel, Jesus invites us, “Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. … you must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

In the second reading St. Paul tells us that Advent season is a time “to awake from sleep,” “throw off works of darkness, and put on the armor of light.” It is a time to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.” St. Paul mentions some of the desires (sins) of the flesh: “orgies and drunkenness,” “promiscuity and lust,” “rivalry and jealousy.”

To conclude, during Advent season, we are encouraged to undertake works of charity which can bring hope, peace, joy, and love to the life of others. John the Baptist says, “Whoever has two tunics should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise” (Luke 3:10-11). 

Some spiritual recipe for a good Advent season:

·      Participate in parish Advent season spiritual exercises such as retreat, prayer, Penitential Service, Confession and so on.

·      Make Advent season spiritual resolutions to be closer to God.

·      Attend weekday Mass in addition to Sunday Mass.

·      Make peace with estranged relationships.

·      Do works of charity.

·      Be devoted to the Word of God and to prayer.

We wish one another a fruitful and Spirit-filled Advent season.