"IMMINENT COMING OF THE LORD"
First Reading: Isaiah 35: 1-6a and 10
Second Reading: James 5: 7-10
Gospel Reading: Matthew 11: 1-11
*First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. In this passage Isiah foretells the return of the people of Israel from the Babylonian captivity as the Lord God will come to their rescue. Isaiah tells us too that we should look beyond our sorrows and disappointments of the present with great hope in God's love and His saving actions in our lives. The Prophet encourages to cheer up and not be afraid because the Lord God will save us.
* Second reading is from the letter of St. James. In this passage the Apostle stresses the quality which all of us find it hard - patience. He urges us to be loving and patient with one another and be patient regarding the Lord's final coming. He gives us the example of prophets who underwent sufferings but went about patiently.
"Are you the one who is to come?"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. This passage describes the predicament of John the Baptist regarding Jesus. All of us have some unfulfilled hopes and unanswered prayers and John too faced a problem with the identity of Jesus. "Are you the one or shall we look for another ?" was the question put by John. Hopes of John the Baptist regarding Jesus as the promised Messiah was not entirely fulfilled. John was imprisoned by Herod. In the prison he was confused about Jesus. The question put by John is raised by many even today. Jesus' answer to messengers of John was to observe what was happening around them and tell John concerning their experience of Jesus: sight for the blind, lame walking, dead are raised to life and the good news being preached to the poor. Is there any such experiences in our lives that would make us say,'Yes' to Jesus.?.
Today Jesus gives us the same message - to look around and see the presence of God and His benevolent power around us. Look around and see God's mighty manifestations of love and power around us. When our hopes are broken and our dreams are shattered let us not get disappointed and disheartened but rather place our trust in the Lord.
"A prison cell is which one awaits, hopes - and is completely dependent on the fact that the door to freedom has to be opened from outside, is not a bad picture of advent", - Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
"Want to keep Christ in Christmas? Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive the guilty, welcome the unwanted, care for the ill, love your enemies and do unto others as you would have done unto you" - S. Maraboli.
First Reading: Isaiah 35: 1-6a and 10
Second Reading: James 5: 7-10
Gospel Reading: Matthew 11: 1-11
*First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. In this passage Isiah foretells the return of the people of Israel from the Babylonian captivity as the Lord God will come to their rescue. Isaiah tells us too that we should look beyond our sorrows and disappointments of the present with great hope in God's love and His saving actions in our lives. The Prophet encourages to cheer up and not be afraid because the Lord God will save us.
* Second reading is from the letter of St. James. In this passage the Apostle stresses the quality which all of us find it hard - patience. He urges us to be loving and patient with one another and be patient regarding the Lord's final coming. He gives us the example of prophets who underwent sufferings but went about patiently.
"Are you the one who is to come?"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. This passage describes the predicament of John the Baptist regarding Jesus. All of us have some unfulfilled hopes and unanswered prayers and John too faced a problem with the identity of Jesus. "Are you the one or shall we look for another ?" was the question put by John. Hopes of John the Baptist regarding Jesus as the promised Messiah was not entirely fulfilled. John was imprisoned by Herod. In the prison he was confused about Jesus. The question put by John is raised by many even today. Jesus' answer to messengers of John was to observe what was happening around them and tell John concerning their experience of Jesus: sight for the blind, lame walking, dead are raised to life and the good news being preached to the poor. Is there any such experiences in our lives that would make us say,'Yes' to Jesus.?.
Today Jesus gives us the same message - to look around and see the presence of God and His benevolent power around us. Look around and see God's mighty manifestations of love and power around us. When our hopes are broken and our dreams are shattered let us not get disappointed and disheartened but rather place our trust in the Lord.
"A prison cell is which one awaits, hopes - and is completely dependent on the fact that the door to freedom has to be opened from outside, is not a bad picture of advent", - Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
"Want to keep Christ in Christmas? Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive the guilty, welcome the unwanted, care for the ill, love your enemies and do unto others as you would have done unto you" - S. Maraboli.
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