Third Sunday of Advent: Gospel Reflection

“The poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” (Matthew 11:5)

In this week's Gospel, we hear that John the Baptist sent his friends to go find Jesus and ask him if he was really the Messiah. Rather than just answering with a simple yes or no, Jesus told them to tell John: “The deaf can hear, 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.”

Jesus is not speaking in code. He is telling us he has come to reach out to the poor and suffering. As his disciples, we are called to do the same.

Who are these people in our world today? They are family members who are sick or lonely. They are our classmates who are bullied. They are the men and women on our streets who don’t have a place to sleep at night. And they are the families around the world who, because of poverty or violence in their countries, struggle to make it through each day.

Moo Kho is one of these people. She lived in Myanmar, a country in Asia, but fled to the United States with her husband and child after her village was burned down. She was given the opportunity to work at a candlemaking company in the United States, Prosperity Candle, which pays her enough so that she can afford food and a safe place for her family to live.

Moo Kho had the Good News proclaimed to her when she was offered a place to live and work in the United States. We can prepare the way for Jesus by reaching out and welcoming those who are most in need, like Moo Kho.