Third Sunday of Advent
I spent Thanksgiving week at home my mom in India. It was an unplanned visit. I went because some of mom’s needs could not wait till my usual vacation in January. The consoling thing about leaving home this time was that both mom and I knew that I would be back home in just over a month.
As is customary, before I leave the house, mom and I spend time in prayer. There is a picture of the Holy Family enthroned in the living room. This is our space for all family prayer. Each time I leave, standing under this picture, mom lays her hands over me and prays for me. And then, I lay hands over her and pray for her. And then she makes the sign of the cross on my forehead, kisses me and says, “Go, only to return!” This time, knowing that I would be back in a few weeks, she also said, pratyasha. It is the Sanskrit word for ‘hope’. She pointed to the picture of the Holy Family, touched her heart, and then looked at me and said, pratyasha. This assurance mom and I have of being together again, that is hope. That is what she will live for. I can tell you this right now, even though it would not be too long since we have met, January is going to feel like heaven all over again. Hope leads to joy! Hope leads to ecstasy.
I share this story because on a personal note it connects me to the spirit of Advent in today’s scripture readings. It is the spirt of Pratyasha or hope – hope that leads to joy.
Today’s scripture readings tell us other stories of hope that leads to joy. Today’s first reading from the book of Isaiah captures the hope and joy of an exiled people. Seventy years – the exile was seventy years of desolation, abandonment, despair, and hopelessness. Then, like rain in a parched land, the exiles heard words of hope. Isaiah proclaimed:
“Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak,
say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God, he comes with vindication;
with divine recompense he comes to save you” (Is 35:3-4).
The hope of the exiles made way for joy. The people got a glimpse into the possibility of returning home. “Sorrow and mourning will flee” proclaimed Isaiah, “they will meet with everlasting joy and gladness” (Is 35:10). The remnant of God’s people did return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple and their homeland. Hope did turn into joy.
We have yet another story of hope in today’s gospel reading. A people suppressed and oppressed by the Roman Empire awaited a Messiah. This time, though, the hope was not only that of Israel. Humanity awaited salvation. John the Baptist verbalized that hope when he sent his emissaries to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" (Mt 11:3). Jesus’ answer was indirect but pointed to the hope that awaited humanity. He replied:
"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” (Mt 11:4-6).
Once again, hope is realized in joy. Jesus becomes the joy of humanity.
Here are three practical implications for today:
Never Give Up Hope
I am not sure who needs to hear this today, but never give up hope. Everything around you might say otherwise. But never, never give up hope. If hope could emerge after seventy years of exile, if hope can emerge from a nation in bondage, if hope can emerge from a lowly manger, if hope could emerge from a dreadful cross, if hope could emerge from a dark tomb, then you and I should cling on to hope no matter what. Never give up hope.
Hope that Leads to Joy
Today I want to propose joy not merely in the grand experiences of life but also in the ordinariness of life. The joy of friendship, the joy of companionship, joy of a job well done, the joy of nature, the joy of a restful night, joy of helping someone in need, the joy of reading an inspirational text, the joy of prayer, the joy of faith – all these come from God. Joy is a daily gift of the Messiah. Let us not be slow to recognize it.
Becoming Hope and Joy
All of us, in some area of our life stand in need of hope and in another area of life have hope to offer. All of us, in one area of our life stand in need of joy and in another area of life have joy to offer. For someone out there, we are their only hope. And someone out there is our only joy. This week let us only give hope, let us only bring joy. In giving hope and joy may we find our own.
As we celebrate this Eucharist, we recognize that our greatest hope and joy is on this altar. We await Christ anew this Christmas. Today, here and now, he is our hope; he is our joy. Amen.
- Fr. Satish Joseph