Today the Church invites us to rejoice, for the Lord is near. The prophet Isaiah paints a vision of renewal and hope: the desert blooming with flowers, the weak strengthened, and the sorrowful filled with joy. God’s presence transforms barrenness into beauty and despair into delight. This is not wishful thinking but a promise rooted in divine faithfulness. In the second reading, we are reminded to be patient, like farmers waiting for the precious harvest. Advent teaches us that waiting is not passive; it is an act of faith. We trust that even when we cannot yet see the fruit, God is already at work in hidden and gentle ways. In the Gospel reading, John the Baptist sends messengers to ask Jesus if he is the One to come. Jesus answers not with titles but with deeds: the blind see, the lame walk, and the poor hear the good news. These signs affirm that God’s kingdom is already breaking into the world. Let us open our hearts to recognize Christ’s presence in our midst.

Abba Father, fill my heart with joyful patience. Amen.