Who is Jesus?

Third Sunday of Advent

Today we light the third candle on the Advent wreath, the rose-coloured candle. The priest’s vestments are also rose just like the fourth week of Lent, they represent the joyful reward which comes from offering sacrifice with patience. It is called Gaudete Sunday, as Gaudete is the Latin word meaning “rejoice.  Also, today’s Mass opens with the words of St. Paul “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near” (Philippians 4: 4-5). St. Paul urges Christians to rejoice because the Lord is coming. Paul was speaking about Jesus’ second coming but today the Church also invites us to focus on Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus which we are getting closer to celebrating. We wait with hope, certain of Christ’s second coming because we have already experienced his first. We are joyfully reminded that our salvation is near.

The Gospel today focuses like last week on John the Baptist who is now in prison simply for preaching the truth and announcing the coming of the Messiah, the Anointed One of God. John sends messengers to Jesus to ask him if he really is “the one who is to come” or should he wait for someone else? The phrase, “the one who is to come,” was one of the titles for the Messiah at that time. For most Jews at that time the Messiah’s coming, was connected with political and economic upheaval which would result in victory for the Jewish people over their Roman rulers. Jesus was indeed “the one who was to come” but he was a different kind of Messiah from the one they were expecting, his kingdom was neither political nor economic but a spiritual one with values different to those of the world. Jesus doesn’t answer their question with a “yes” or “no” but points out the signs of his kingdom. The blind received sight, the deaf could hear, the lame could now walk, and the dead were raised to life. These were the signs prophesied by Isaiah, which Jesus was fulfilling. Jesus invites John as he invites us today to make up his own mind. Jesus goes on to praise John for the work he has done preparing the people for his message. All those who work for the kingdom of God will be as great as John and even greater. We can learn a lesson from John in prison, even he who believed that Jesus was the Messiah, had his doubts and needed reassurance. Sometimes we too have doubts about our faith which might not always be as strong as we would like. It doesn’t mean that we should give up when we feel that our prayers are not being answered. John gives us an example of what we should do, turn back to Christ asking for a renewed faith and the courage to go on witnessing in our families. As we look around us, we can always find glimpses of God’s work among us, especially through our own words and actions and in doing so we are helping to prepare the way for God’s kingdom just like John the Baptist.   

A reading from the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 11: 2-11)

When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Jesus said to them in reply, “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, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out?  To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you. 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.”

The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

  1. Read the Gospel story so that you are familiar with it.
  2. As parents it is easy to look around us and become discouraged by what we might feel is the absence of God in the world. Advent is a season for hope, in which we consider salvation through Jesus Christ. Encourage your children to look for signs of hope that God is at work in our world. Point out God’s goodness and love.
  3. Advent is a good time for us to match our words with our deeds. Try as a family to be involved with helping others who are in need. Donating to a foodbank or helping out making mince pies or Christmas logs to donate to charity or give to an elderly neighbour. As Jesus matched his deeds to his words, so can we, as his followers.   
  4. Together with your family find the right time to read this Gospel. The environment helps, so before you start, prepare;
    i. The Bible reading from Matthew (Mt 11: 2-11)
    ii. A candle
    iii. Cover the table with a violet cloth
    v. A computer/laptop with the readings and clips
  5. Go through the steps with your children (2 age groups are being suggested).
  6. Feel free to adapt to your situation
  7. Be creative 😊 
  8. Go to the Prayer Corner section to continue praying as a family. 

In today’s Gospel we are going to listen to Jesus say that he came to cure the blind, to heal the sick, to bring the dead back to life and to bring good news to the poor. 

  • Heart template
  • Craft card
  • Glue/scissors
  • Pencil/colours
  • String/ribbon
Heart template Download
  • Printout of the heart (preferably on A3 paper)
  • Printout of the different activities
  • Printout of the sad face
  • A paper cup or some other container
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Colours
activityDownload

Today is the third Sunday of Advent, we light the pink candle on the Advent wreath. Pink is a symbol of the joy we feel because we are half-way to Christmas. In the Gospel like last week, we hear about John the Baptist, he is in prison, and he sends a message to Jesus. He wants to know if Jesus really is the special person who he has been waiting for, if he is the Messiah, or should he continue to watch for someone else? Jesus answers John’s question by saying that he is the one who has come to heal the sick and to bring good news to the poor. Jesus names some of the wonderful things he has been doing. He gave sight to the blind. The crippled can walk. People with leprosy (a terrible skin disease) have been cured. The deaf can hear. The dead are raised to life. The good news has been told to the poor. This answer tells John that Jesus really is the person that he has been waiting for.

What does it mean to bring good news to people who are poor? Do you have any idea? Well, we are all part of one family, God’s family, and God asks us to help each other just like Jesus helped all the people he met. What can we do to help other people such as our family and our friends? What can we do to help people in other countries whom we have never met?

During advent you will see a large basket or box in church where you can put food donations for the poor, this is a good way to help others. Try this week to be like Jesus and help others, when we help others, we are following Jesus’ example. Let us pray for God’s help to live and act more like Jesus. 

Maybe you would like to make a Helping heart mobile. Try to think of ways in which you can help others this week. Maybe donate food to a foodbank or help members of your family. Print out the hearts template, stick it on craft card and write on each heart your ideas. Decorate each heart, either colour them or use stickers. Glue the hearts onto a ribbon and you can hang it in your bedroom. The first heart can just be a smiley face, reminding us to help others joyfully. 

Listen to the song, My God is powerful.

Sign of the Cross.

God of hope, you sent your Son Jesus to heal the sick, to raise the dead and to bring good news to the poor. Help us to be that good news to everyone we meet, so that all people around the world can come to know you too. Amen 

In the Gospel today Jesus tells the people that John the Baptist was a prophet and a messenger. A prophet is someone who speaks the truth about God. John prepared the way for Jesus as he told the people that a saviour was coming soon, the Messiah, and that they needed to repent and turn away from their sins. 

  • Saint John the Baptist was the messenger who prepared the world for Jesus’ coming
  • The real reason for being joyful is that salvation in Jesus Christ is near to us
  • Story cube template
  • Craft card
  • Scissors/glue
  • Colours and pencil
templateDownload

Traditionally the third week of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday and we light the pink candle on the Advent wreath. Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice. We are getting closer to Jesus’ birth and the light is getting brighter now that three candles are lit, Jesus’ message will bring us gladness and salvation.

 In the Gospel today Jesus teaches us that we have a reason to rejoice (be happy). When John’s disciples ask Jesus if he is the one, they have been waiting for, the Messiah, Jesus answers by naming all the activities he has carried out. These are the signs that show God’s kingdom is being worked through him. Jesus brought healing and life by curing the sick and raising the dead, he brought good news to the poor and his message is one of mercy and hope. These signs show us how much God loves us and if we believe in him, we will receive everlasting joy. Jesus has the power to save us, and this is our reason to be joyful. The Gospel then tells us something about John the Baptist, he is a prophet, a messenger sent by God with the highest mission. He is a very special prophet, he prepared the people for the coming of Jesus, he told the people to change their lives by turning away from sin, understanding what they have done wrong and want to do things better in future.   

What do you think might be a reason for our rejoicing today? We rejoice because we can see God at work in the world around us. Remember, God is present even in the little things like someone being kind or a friendly smile. Maybe your friend at school shares their lunch with you or brings you an unexpected gift. Perhaps the sun shines on a day when you are going on a picnic, or you notice a beautiful rainbow in the sky. Random acts of kindness often lead to more acts of kindness. These are all signs that God is at work in our world today and we rejoice and thank God for all his good works in creation. Especially the good works of Jesus. 

To remind yourself of the great works Jesus spoke about in today’s gospel you can make a Story Cube. Print the cube template and before you cut it out draw a picture of the miracles Jesus mentioned on each side. Colour it and stick it on craft card. When it is dry cut it out and fold it into a cube, use glue to hold it together. Keep it in your bedroom.

Listen to the song, My God is powerful.

Sign of the cross.

Dear God, we rejoice and thank you for salvation through your Son Jesus Christ. We pray that all people will know the joy of salvation through Jesus. We thank you for your continuing work in our world today. Amen

Coming soon.

How to use this space

God speaks to us in many ways, including through the Sunday Scripture readings. Here you will find useful background and activities to better understand the upcoming Sunday's Scripture readings, helping you to connect the Scripture to daily life in a meaningful way.