Rejoice — The Lord Is Near, and He Comes to Heal

Click for More

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121425.cfm

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice” (Phil 4:4). On Gaudete Sunday, Fr. Matt reminds us why the Church pauses in Advent to rejoice: the Lord is near. Advent is not only preparation for Christ’s first coming at Bethlehem, but vigilance for His Second Coming, when He will “judge the living and the dead,” as we profess in the Creed. This joy is born from hope — the hope Israel carried for centuries as it awaited the Messiah who would heal, redeem, and restore.

The prophet Isaiah foretold that the Messiah would open blind eyes, unstop deaf ears, make the lame leap, and cause the mute to sing (Is 35:5–6). Yet as Fr. Matt explains, these miracles point to something even deeper. Christ came not merely to heal bodies, but to heal souls. Spiritual blindness, deafness, paralysis, and death caused by sin are far more devastating than physical illness. Jesus’ miracles are signs that He alone restores life through grace.

John the Baptist understood this. From prison, he sent his disciples to Jesus — not out of doubt, but so they might encounter the Lamb of God themselves. Christ’s response revealed the truth: salvation was at hand. Still today, joy depends on recognizing our need for Him. When we cling to sin, we choose darkness over light and forfeit the freedom Christ offers. But when we repent and receive His mercy, the light conquers the night.

Jesus told St. Faustina, “I am the King of Mercy… before I come as a just Judge” (Diary, 83). In the Eucharist, He comes even now. If we rejoice at His coming today, we will rejoice when He comes again.

Added to Favorites!
Added to Watch Later!

You might also like...

A Culture Without Love Cannot Defend Life

In today’s homily, Fr. David reminds us that the pro-life mission begins not only with defending the unborn, but with defending the truth about the human person. As the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith taught in Donum Vitae (1987), “Human life must be absolutely respected and protected from the moment of conception.” This foundational truth reveals why the Church insists that no one may claim the right to directly destroy an innocent human being—for life begins with the creative action of God and belongs entirely to Him.

Church Teaching on Voting

Hear Fr. Chris Alar explain what Catholics need to know about Church teaching and voting, including which issues are “Non-Negotiable” and which issues are not.

Are You Ready for the Master’s Return?

Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, reminds us of a sobering truth: death is not the end — it’s the moment the Master comes for us. In today’s readings, we hear both the cause and the cure for death. Through one man, sin entered the world, and through sin, death. But through Christ, the new Adam, we are given the remedy: to be ready, vigilant, and in a state of grace when He comes.