Message from Fr. John Buonocore

St. Gregory the Great Catholic Parish

This Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent, we rejoice! Gaudete Sunday is a time of joyful and hopeful anticipation for the coming of Christ at Christmas. It marks a shift from the penitential feel of the first two weeks of Advent and focuses on the closeness of Christ’s coming at Christmas.

The readings for this week echo that spirit of joyful anticipation. Both the readings and the Psalm focus on the nearness and the coming of the Lord. The First Reading mentions, “The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom…Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication…” (Isaiah 35:1,4) This prophecy of Isaiah proclaims the coming of the Messiah and the great miracles that will accompany His arrival. At the coming of the Messiah, Isaiah proclaims, “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag,...” (Isaiah 35:5-6) The Psalm mentions a similar sentiment, “The LORD gives sight to the blind; the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.” (Psalm 146:8) In the Second Reading, St. James tells us, “Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand.” (James 5:8)

In response to John the Baptist’s question about whether or not Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus responds in the Gospel this week, “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.” (Matthew 11:4-5) Jesus performed the miracles proclaimed by Isaiah in the First Reading. He fulfilled all of the Old Testament prophecies. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind and made the deaf hear. He performed all these miracles and more to bring about faith in Him as the Messiah and to heal our fragile humanity. Jesus today, through the actions of His Holy Church and its ministers continues to be present to us and to manifest His healing power.

He continues to heal the sick, forgive sins and feed us with His Body and Blood through the gift of the Sacraments, in particular the Anointing of the Sick, Reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist. Jesus Christ is present to us, and His power is manifest to us. He desires to heal us physically, spiritually and emotionally. He knows what we need before we ask and what is truly best for us and for our eternal Salvation.

May we truly rejoice this Sunday and all the days leading up to Christmas, for Jesus Christ, the Messiah and the lover of our souls is present to us and has come to heal us. He has come to be with us. May we turn to Jesus and rejoice with Him, knowing that all things are possible for God and for those who place their trust in Him.

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Father John