Jesus is the Anointed and Sent One of God, and there is no other.  It is clear he is so, for he goes about to do good. 

Jesus goes about all Galilee to do good.  Yet when John hears in prison what Jesus does, he sends his disciple to ask him, “Are you he who is to come, or should we look for another?”

John, then, does not seem to think that Jesus’ works show that he is the Messiah.  The prisoner has doubts about Jesus or he starts to feel deep anguish in the face of death.  Or he may not have the farmer’s patience.  All the same, he shows he lacks what the Pharisees and the Sadducees have too much of:  being so sure of oneself and of all things.

But such being so sure gives birth to closed-mindedness, stubbornness, arrogance, disdain of others.  And needless to say, these traits do not make for conversion, change of the way to be, think, act.

John’s doubts, then, pave the way to change his thinking about the Messiah.  And this change of thinking is just what Jesus wants to see in his forerunner.  Hence, he makes clear to him his Messiahship:  rather than judge, condemn, destroy, he heals, cures and restores.

That is, Jesus is the Messiah who gives himself to curing wounds and easing others’ suffering.  He is merciful like his Father who has anointed him with the Holy Spirit and sent him to announce the Good News to the poor.

So, mercy, not sensationalism, drives him to do good.  No, there is no breathtaking show of violent power, no punishment.  No fire, into which to throw trees that do not bear fruit and the chaff.

Jesus’ way of preaching and acting is not at all like the usual ways.  So, there are those who take offense.

Lord Jesus, we seek to conform our lives to that which you led on earth (SV.EN XII:3).  Grant, then, that we announce the Good News to the poor and not tire to do good.  Make us merciful, in place of being harsh judges of others.  And let not human respect or vanity be our motive ever (SV.EN XI: 52. 388).  And grant also that, like you and John, we may be firm and simple.  And love to the end, to giving up our bodies and shedding our blood.

14 December 2025
3rd Sunday of Advent (A)
Is 35, 1-6a. 10; Jas 5, 7-10; Mt 11, 2-11