"The Lord is always near"

His presence is a constant source of hope.

This solace, strength and peace offering a powerful anchor. 

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊      

Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10

Let the wilderness

And the arid land rejoice, the desert be glad and blossom.

Covered with flowers, it sings and shouts with joy, adorned with the splendor of Lebanon, the magnificence of Carmel and Sharon.

They, my people, see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Give vigor to weary hands and strength to enfeebled knees.

Say to those who are afraid: "Have courage, do not fear. See, your God comes, demanding justice. 

He is the God who rewards, the God who comes to save you."

 

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unsealed.

Then will the lame leap as a hart and the tongue of the dumb sing and shout.

For water will break out in the wilderness and streams gush forth from the desert.

For the ransomed of the Lord will return: with everlasting joy upon their heads,

they will come to Zion singing, gladness and joy marching with them, while sorrow and sighing flee away.

 

Ps 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 

Lord, come and save us.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

James 5:7-10

Be patient then, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. See how the sower waits for the precious fruits of the earth, looking forward,

patiently, to the autumn and spring rains. You, also, be patient, and do not lose heart, because the Lord's coming is near.

Beloved, do not fight among yourselves and you will not be judged. See, the judge is already at the door.

Take for yourselves, as an example of patience, the suffering of the prophets, who spoke in the Lord's name.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Matthew 11:2-11

Then John the Baptist heard in prison about the deeds of When Christ, he sent a message by his disciples, asking him,

"Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?" Jesus answered them,

"Go back and report to John what you hear and see: the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are made clean, the deaf hear,

the dead are brought back to life, and the poor hear the good news; and how fortunate is the one who does not take offense at me!"

 

As the messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John:

"When you went out to the desert, what did you expect to see? A reed swept by the wind?

What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? People who wear fine clothes live in palaces.

What did you really go out to see? A prophet? Yes, indeed, and even more than a prophet.

 

He is the man of whom Scripture says: I send my messenger ahead of you, to prepare the way before you.

I tell you this: no one greater than John the Baptist has arisen from among the sons of women;

and yet, the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

 

Lectio Divina

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"The Lord is always near."

 Read: Isaiah describes the coming of the Lord like the flowering of the wilderness.

James encourages us to wait patiently for the Lord's coming.

Jesus confirms that John the Baptist is the great prophet who will usher in the time of the Messiah.

 

Reflect: In some desert parts of the world, there's a sudden transformation of the landscape after a heavy downpour of rain.

Plants and seeds lie dormant, perhaps even for years, until the moment when water finally reaches them,

and then the desert becomes a carpet of flowers and greenery. The readings from Isaiah and James point to the suddenness of God's coming,

but also the need for patience, as we wait for his glorious arrival.

 

The barrenness of the desert or the bare field before germination give no indication of what is happening or the potential that lies underneath.

The Lord will come in all his glory at the end of time, but he also comes to us in hidden ways in our daily lives.

God's help often comes unexpectedly, and blossoms suddenly,

perhaps after a time of difficulty or a long period of prayer. Let's never lose heart. The Lord is always near.

 

Pray: Meditate on Psalm 46:11. Wait and be still in God's presence.

 

Act: "Report what you see." Talk or write about your faith.