Thursday after Gaudete, The Third Sunday in Advent
Posted on December 19, 2019 by under
Scripture: James 5:7-11 (NKJV)
5:7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
Devotion
As yesterday’s keyword was “urgency”, today’s keyword is “patience”. There is urgency concerning repentance because one must repent and be baptized while there is still time. However, if one is already in Christ—by Baptism and faith—than he is already reconciled to God. All that is left for him to do is to wait patiently for the Last Day to arrive.
Verse 7 says, “See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.” A farmer cannot make the rain come; the rain comes in its own time. If his field is plowed and sown, then it is ready for the rain, but he does not know how long he must wait. In the same way, the Holy Spirit prepares us for the coming of the Lord by planting faith in us through Baptism. After that, we must wait, for we do not know when the Lord will return.
But, while we wait, the Holy Spirit is still active. “Do not grumble against one another,” writes St. James, “lest you be condemned.” Anger and disunity among the members of the Church can cause some to fall from the Faith, as St. John warns: “he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” (1 John 4:20). Therefore, the Holy Spirit continues to work through orthodox preaching and sound doctrine, that the whole Church of God may be one in the confession, the Faith, and the doctrine of Christ.
We pray: Lord, we beseech Thee, give ear to our prayers and lighten the darkness of our hearts by Thy gracious visitation; through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
