There are two words that can be used to describe what the readings are about for today: joyful expectation. The readings speak of waiting for someone; of waiting for the Messiah. But it isn’t just some boring wait that we have to endure like when we wait at the check out or wait for a traffic light to change. Those who wrote these passages we just heard are clearly talking about expecting someone of great importance. This Messiah is not someone who we are waiting for with dread, but someone who we will be filled with joy at seeing. So the readings, in fact the prayers and other texts that are written specifically for the Third Sunday of Advent, are truly about joyful expectation. This Sunday is called Gaudete Sunday, which means “rejoice”.
When I was writing this homily, I was thinking to myself what would make a good image to help illustrate this idea of joyful expectation? And I began thinking about how when I go back to my parent's house in Grand Rapids, there is always one there who is so excited to see me, it is almost as if she waiting with bated breath for my return. I am talking about Dori, my parent's Golden Retriever. Now some of you might not be dog people, some of you might not really like them at all, so you might not be able to relate to this all that well, but if you have ever watched a dog react to seeing his master or family come home, you know that he is going to be overjoyed to see them and will do his best to show how excited he is. It doesn't matter if you were out the door for five minutes or were gone on a vacation for a week and had to leave the dog in the care of the neighbors, if that dog is healthy and is being taken care of, he is excited to see you. “Oh boy! You're back! I didn't think I would ever see you gain!”
Dogs have a gift for being able to show their emotions in their whole body language. When you think about it, the word emotion is not just talking about feelings, but also about how the body reacts to that feeling. Emotions literally give motion to the body. This is very apparent in dogs. If a dog is sad the ears and tail both droop and head might be lowered as well. Angry, the ears are perked up, the muscles tighten and his hackles are up. Excited or happy, the mouth is open and the tail is wagging. Sometimes the whole body is wagging with the tail.
Going back to my parent's dog Dori, she doesn't actually wait at the door for me, since I only go back about once or twice a month, but seeing her reaction, you would think she had been awaiting my return. She is almost ten years old now, so she is not as spry as she used to be. She used to jump off the couch and run to greet me. Sometimes she won't even get off the couch now, but once she sees it's me, she'll still get up, albeit slowly, and wag her tail enthusiastically and even jump up to say hello. He favorite thing to do when I come in the door is to get one of her toys, which are scattered throughout the house, and get me to play with her. I am certain that if that dog could talk, her favorite thing to say would be. “Oh boy! It's you! I have the perfect toy! Wait right here! I'll go get it!” And she'll run off to find it and will be back in a few seconds, so I can play with her. The funny thing with this dog, is that she is not looking for just any toy. I know this because she will run past other toys in search of a specific toy that she has in mind. And she will find that toy, because in her mind I have come back specifically to play with her and for no other purpose.
I hope that talking a little about dogs and their exuberance at seeing familiar humans come back can at least give us an idea of the joyful expectation that today's readings are trying to convey to us. The Prophet Isaiah describes what almost sounds like a scene out of a Disney movie. The coming of the Messiah is going to be so exciting and so joyful that the land itself is going to be transformed, simply because there is so much joy! “The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song.” Land that is arid and has very little growing on it is going to burst forth with life with the coming of Christ. The land itself will even sing for joy we are told. This is a big deal. The reading ends with, “Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy; they will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.” To ransom someone means to free them from something. In this case they are talking about how Christ is going to free His people from sin. No wonder there is so much rejoicing! If we could understand what that really means to be freed from sin, we would be rejoicing as well. We take it for granted that Christ saves us, thought. That's the problem.
While Isaiah talks about getting excited for the coming of the Lord, St. James says in his letter to be patient. Impatience, the apostle warns, leads to a lack of charity towards those around you, and so he warns not to complain about others. He also seems to be saying to trust in God when he says, “Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand.” St. James is talking about Jesus' second coming and is telling his audience to be ready. He knows that those reading the letter are already excited about Jesus' coming, but he also knows that the excitement might boil over if they don't keep patience and get properly ready for this incredible event.
The Gospel does not disappoint by continuing this theme of joyful expectation. Even John the Baptist has had expectations of the coming of the Christ. I am certain that John already knew that Jesus was “the one who is to come”, but I'm guessing he sent his disciples to ask Him for their own benefit. As if Jesus' response to the question is not already a clear enough answer of “Yes!”, with all the references to the lame walking and the deaf hearing, the Lord gives a side explanation to the crowd. They have been expecting someone important. John didn't meet those expectations and neither did Jesus. But John is more important than you think, and so is Jesus. Jesus is saying, I'm here, and big things are going to happen.
I encourage all of you, don't let this Advent Season and the coming Christmas Season pass you by as just some crazy time of year to get through. We are expecting the second coming of Jesus one day. Let us be joyful about this. Let us welcome Christ with joy!
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