READING 1: Isaiah 35:1-6, 10
Reading 1 Reflection:
Sometimes when we are in trouble or in danger, our hands shake and our knees feel like jello. But if we could hear a firm and friendly voice saying, "Be strong, fear not! Here is your God," we would be better able to endure whatever came our way. The prophet in today's reading wants God's people to know that God will deliver them from their troubles. Sorrow and sickness and fear will all be left behind as the people joyfully follow the Lord.
Discussion Questions for Reading 1:
It is very tempting to give in to fear, and there seem to be no lack of good reasons for being fearful. However, Jesus told us many times, "Do not be afraid." Why do you think he told us this many times? What is Jesus calling us to? (Note: lack of fear does not mean being reckless with our lives or the lives of others.) Imagine yourself going through life full of fear. What would you be like as a person? How would you act? Now imagine yourself going through life with trust in God. What would you be like? How would you act? Does trust in God mean that nothing sad or tragic would ever happen to you or to someone in your family? What does it mean for you?
Is there someone you know who might need to hear this Advent message, "Be strong, fear not! Here is your God!" today? How could you share this message?
READING 2: James 5:7-10
Reading 2 Reflection:
If you have ever planted a garden, you know how patient a farmer must be. Once the seed is planted, the farmer can only tend it carefully and wait. Complaining about the weather or judging the people who sold him or her the seeds will not make the harvest come any faster.
As we celebrate Advent and look forward to Christ's coming again, we, too, must be patient and avoid judging one another. The kingdom of God grows slowly, day by day, around us and within us.
Discussion Questions for Reading 2:
The word "patience" comes from a word that means "to suffer." This gives us the idea that patience is not always easy! Here the apostle James urges us to be patient with ourselves ("Steady your hearts"), others, and even with the Lord. It is, after all, his kingdom that seems so slow in coming! How are you called to be patient with yourself this Advent? with others? with God? You might also reflect on ways God and others are being patient with you!
Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11
Gospel Reflection:
When he wants to assure John the Baptist that he truly is the Messiah, Jesus quotes passages from the book of Isaiah. These passages picture the time of the Messiah as marked by the same kind of works that Jesus is doing. Jesus heals the blind, the lame, the deaf, and the lepers. He raises the dead and proclaims the good news to the poor. These loving deeds are proof of his identity.
Because John has opened people's hearts to the Savior's coming, Jesus says that John is the greatest of the prophets. We, too, can be like John, and as Jesus said, even greater than John, when we share Jesus' mission of making God's kingdom come.
Discussion Questions for Gospel:
In our American culture, we have all kinds of heroes. We have sports heroes. We have movie stars and TV stars. We might even say we have pretend heroes and real-life heroes. The people of Jesus' time were looking for heroes, too. So they asked Jesus, "Are you the real one?" The Gospel lists some actions of Jesus, the actions of a real-life hero. What are the actions you look for in a real-life hero? How are these actions like the actions of Jesus?
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