St Bernadette Church, Bayou Vista
Advent 3rd Sunday sermon
Is 35:1-6a, 10; Jas 5:7-10; Mat 11:2-11
Hope Alive in What We Do
Many of us carry a quiet fear about the future. Families long for stability in uncertain times; others wait with heavy hearts for healing, reconciliation, or a sense of direction. Fear often grows out of the unknown — out of what lies beyond our control. Yet even in the midst of this uncertainty, hope becomes the light that guides our steps and keeps us moving forward.
Today’s readings speak directly into this reality. They offer three enduring truths about how hope is sustained: through God’s unwavering faithfulness, through concrete actions that make his presence visible, and through the witness of our own lives. These messages remind us that hope is not passive — it is something God plants in us, nurtures through others, and calls us to embody each day.
Hope Revealed: The people of Judah knew fear and discouragement. Exiled in Babylon, they wondered whether God had forgotten them or whether their story had come to an end. Into this darkness, Isaiah proclaims a bold message: “Here is your God… He will come to save you!” His words paint a picture of deserts blooming, weak hands strengthened, fearful hearts made brave. Isaiah does not deny their suffering; instead, he anchors them in the truth that God is still at work, still faithful, still holding them.
A simple story captures this trust. A little girl named Miriam was crossing a narrow bridge with her father. He said, “Hold my hand so you don’t fall.” But she answered, “No — you hold my hand. If I hold yours, I might let go. But if you hold mine, I know you’ll never let go.” That is Advent hope. Even when life feels uncertain, God’s grasp on us is firmer than our grasp on him. Our hope endures not because we are strong, but because he is.
Actions That Speak Hope: Centuries after the exile, the people were still waiting for God’s promise to unfold. Even John the Baptist — the fiery prophet who prepared the way — found himself in prison, wrestling with doubt. He sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come?” Jesus did not answer with a title or a claim, but with evidence: “The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news preached to them.”
In other words: Look at the fruits. Look at the deeds. Hope is alive because God’s mercy is active.
The same is true today. The world recognizes Christ in us not through arguments, ornaments, or online slogans, but through how we live. Saint Teresa of Calcutta understood this deeply. Her faith spoke loudest through her compassion — tending the dying, comforting the forgotten, welcoming the unwanted. Journalist Malcolm Muggeridge once said of her, “She showed me Christianity in action… love in action.” Her life became a window through which others could see Christ.
Living a Hope That Shines Today: As Christmas draws near, the world is full of lights, music, and celebration. These are beautiful, but they do not by themselves reveal Christ to a weary world. What truly convinces hearts is the light that radiates from our actions: patient listening, generous service, mercy offered freely, forgiveness extended sincerely.
The Advent invitation is simple but demanding: Let your life become a sign of hope. When we encourage someone who is discouraged, when we choose peace over resentment, when we help someone carry a burden, we echo Isaiah’s promise and Jesus’ mission. Christ is made visible — not in theory, but in lived love.
If we want a truly Christ-filled Christmas, then our deeds must speak the hope we profess. When kindness brightens someone’s darkness and compassion softens someone’s fear, Christ is born again — not only in Bethlehem, but in our own homes, workplaces, and communities. That is how hope stays alive: held by God, and carried by us.
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