3rd Sunday of Advent December 14th 2025

First Reading: (Isaiah 35:1 to 6a, 10)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 146:6 to 10)

Second Reading: (James 5:7 to 10)
Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord.

Alleluia: (Isaiah 61:1)
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.

Gospel: (Matthew 11:2 to 11)

Jesus said to them,
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.
The poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
Blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.

Reflection

This reflection begins at Mass at Saint Mary’s Parish on the Yale University campus.
The church is beautiful and full of history. Just walking in, you can smell the history there, and it is where Blessed Michael McGivney is buried, the founder of the Knights of Columbus.

This was the 5 p.m. Mass, and we had our first big snow of the year. Despite the snow and the difficult roads, the church was full. People still came. I believe many, like me, could not make the morning Masses.

The priest spoke about actions, not words.
Like Jesus once said, not everyone who says Lord, Lord shall enter the kingdom.

Again,
“Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father.”
(Matthew 7:21)

Jesus showed what he meant.
He washed the disciples’ feet.

“So if your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
(John 13:14)

What was once the task of slaves, Jesus chose for himself.

“What you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.”
(Matthew 25:40)

The readings today are not explanations.
They are evidence.

Jesus does not argue who he was to his disciples. He shows it. And that can be revealed to us as well if we walk with him.

“Tell John what you hear and see.”
(Matthew 11:4). This is what the Kingdom looks like.

It was a beautiful Mass, and I wanted to share this nice and quick.

God bless you.
Have a wonderful evening.

Pal Ronnie