Moments of joy
December 14, 2025 – Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday
Readings: Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10; Psalm 146, R. Lord, come and save us.; James 5:7-10; Gospel – Matthew 11: 2-11
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near.” (Philippians 4: 4-5) “Gaudete in Domino semper iterum dico Gaudete. Vere Dominus prope est.”
This Sunday’s antiphon ushers in the joy that the coming birth of our Lord brings. It is near, so we must rejoice always.
This Sunday’s Gospel is replete with moments of joy. John the Baptist’s question from his prison cell was one of joyful anticipation. “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”
The Lord’s response is a joyful proclamation.
Then the final proclamation of Jesus pointed out to us the source of our joy. We who are “the least in the kingdom of heaven.”
Consider that John was languishing in prison and was most probably anticipating a prophet’s death. Yet amid this dark situation, he poses a question of hope.
Not only was it a question of hope, but a joyful anticipation of the fulfillment of a promise, the blessing upon generations of waiting.
You could imagine a feeling even of excitement, “Are you the one who is to come…?” It seemed like an anticipation of a dream come true, the vindication of John—his message, his sacrifices, were all worth it.
This was the depth of joy his question hinted at.
The Lord responded with equal joy, a very playful response: “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.”
These are signs of the Kingdom. Jesus’ response was like a proclamation of a jubilee year—a year of favor and blessings.
This same Kingdom, as the Lord also proclaimed when he first taught in the synagogue, is in our midst.
The Lord then proclaimed our greatest claim to joy.
“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.”
John was the greatest among the prophets. He was the greatest human in the prophetic age, but with the advent of the Messianic age with the birth of Jesus, this changed.
We, “the least in the kingdom of heaven” who have been blessed with having witnessed the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus, are “greater than [John].”
We take this for granted, but this is what truly made us blessed, beatos, and to live in and with joy for so great a blessing.
This is the joy of Advent. As we come closer to celebrating the birth of Jesus, the Emmanuel, renew St. Paul’s exhortation in our life and faith.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near.”
Truly, this gift of joy comes at a time when we need it most, and because we need it most, perhaps we will appreciate its deeper meaning.
Amid challenges and even temptations to despair, not only do we hold on to hope. We anticipate with joy.
“The Lord is near,” and with this assurance, everything changes. Hope is about to be fulfilled in the manger. Joy is to be proclaimed by the angels. Love enters our world to save us.
“Gaudete in Domino semper iterum dico Gaudete. Vere Dominus prope est.”
