Courage, let us not be Afraid but Listen to the Heartbeat of Joy

Fr. Prabhu tells us of a couple expecting first child. During one of their checkups- the doctor let them hear the heartbeat of their child- they shed tears of joy, even their baby was not in their arms yet, but they could hear the new life. This is the experience that church wants us to have on Gaudete Sunday- we are hearing the heartbeat of the Messiah; even though Jesus is not here yet, we still feel the joy of anticipation as we take a pause in this time of preparation and rejoice because the Lord is very near. In the 1st reading- people who are in the desert- God promises that the desert will bloom. In the 2nd reading- James talks to Christians who are tired of waiting. He reminds them to be patient like the farmer waiting for fruits to appear and be harvested, akin to waiting for the Lord to come and the gospel tells of John the Baptist who sends the messenger to ask Jesus if he is the Messiah. Jesus tells John to listen to the signs and that the promise is being fulfilled.The Lord is here and near. Let us ask for the grace to be open to the messiah and to listen to the heartbeat of joy that is on the way. Courage, let us not be afraid. - Sunday Homily by Fr. Antony Prabhu, C.Ss.R. (14 December 2025)