3rd Sunday of Advent Year A 2025

Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Mt 11,11)

With bright promise, Isaiah speaks of deserts blooming with new life and the weak being strengthened. In this, along with the steady patience urged by James, we find a fitting setting for the radiant admiration Jesus expresses for John the Baptist. Jesus calls John the greatest born of women — a bold, loving tribute to a man whose whole life pointed beyond himself. John is the herald of hope, the voice crying out in the wilderness, the steadfast witness who prepared hearts for the coming of Christ.

As we continue our Advent journey, we are invited to honour John not simply as a figure of history but as a living model for our own Advent preparations. His humility, courage, and unwavering loyalty to God shine like a beacon in uncertain times. John’s message — “Prepare the way of the Lord” — resounds with renewed urgency today, calling us to clear the clutter from our hearts, to soften what has grown rigid, and to stand ready for Christ’s new birth among us.

Let us imagine ourselves, for a moment, gathered as followers of Christ, sharing our reflections in conversation:

One voice says, “As Isaiah foretold, God brings life even to barren places. When I look at the world — the conflicts, the anger, the fear — I long deeply for that blossoming of peace. John reminds me that hope begins with preparation. I want to be part of the soil in which Christ’s peace can take root.”

Another voice replies, “James tells us to be patient, like farmers awaiting the rain. I confess I struggle with that. But John’s steadfastness encourages me. He kept proclaiming the truth even though the world did not change overnight. His faithfulness stirs me to wait with trust rather than impatience.”

A third voice offers, “What moves me most is Jesus’s praise of John. He admired John’s honesty, his integrity, his burning desire for God’s reign. It makes me grateful — profoundly grateful — for John’s witness. Without him, perhaps I would forget that God calls me to make straight the path in my own heart.”

And together we say, “John, we thank you. Fill us with your boldness. Embolden us with your humility. Teach us to recognise the One who stands among us, even when we feel unprepared or uncertain.”

In a world aching for peace, justice, and compassion, John the Baptist remains a gift. He shows us that preparation is not passive. It is active, hopeful, joyful. It is the work of opening our lives to God’s transforming presence. As Isaiah promises streams flowing in the desert and joy upon the road, may we too walk in the kingdom of God with hearts full of song — trusting that Christ is coming with healing, mercy, and renewed hope.

This Advent, may our admiration for John the Baptist inspire us to prepare more sincerely, to live with deeper joy, and to hold fast to the hope that Christ’s light will shine with renewed brightness in our world. Let us be patient, courageous, and ready — for the Lord is near.

By Fr. Thomas O'Brien a.a.