Scripture Scribbles: December 14, 2025
the Gospel
Matthew 11:2-11
When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ,
he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question,
"Are you the one who is to come,
or should we look for another?"
Jesus said to them in reply,
"Go and tell John what you hear and see:
the blind regain their sight,
the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear,
the dead are raised,
and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me."
As they were going off,
Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John,
"What did you go out to the desert to see?
A reed swayed by the wind?
Then what did you go out to see?
Someone dressed in fine clothing?
Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces.
Then why did you go out? To see a prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
This is the one about whom it is written:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way before you.
Amen, I say to you,
among those born of women
there has been none greater than John the Baptist;
yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."
the scribble
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near.
Rejoice! Go on, rejoice! It’s the third week of Advent!! Gaudete Sunday! The Rose colored candle on our Advent wreath! The Rose colored vestments on our Priests! Gaudete, a Latin word which means REJOICE!
I love this “permission” to rejoice, I also love this “reminder” to actually rejoice! Not run around doing all the things, not watching the chaos of the world and swirl with anxiety…..rejoice! Why? Because we are in the season of Advent. We are preparing for our Lord to come. We get this week to taste a little of the Joy that we will get to enjoy fully on Christmas.
On November 30th this year, the first day of Advent, I put these words up on my board in our kitchen; Hope, Peace, Joy, Love, to remind myself, and my family, of what each candle of Advent represents. I was delighted when my “Scribble” fell on this third week. I hope I can encourage you (and me) to recognize what God is doing in our lives.
He sent us a savior, Jesus.
We need a savior, all of us.
He also sent us a messenger, “he will prepare the way before you.”
Do you ever feel like Jesus is making this really clear? “There has been none greater than John the Baptist” and we are to listen to him. Yet we treat it like just another story and not as instructions from the Savior. John was sent to make straight the way of the Lord. John has been talking about this day his whole life and here it is playing out in this week's Gospel.
John even asks, “Are you the one who is to come or should we look for another?” Notice Jesus doesn’t say yes, or no. He points to what he has been doing, who he has been healing.
What is Jesus doing in your life?
Are you waiting for something? Are you waiting to be healed? Waiting for healing for your child, your loved one? A miracle? An answered prayer? Are you waiting with Joyful anticipation? Are you trusting that He is moving, and that He has a plan for you?
This time of year we are encouraged to simplify our lives to make more room for Him. This is our challenge, to live in that Joy even when the world around us is angry and hurried and full of fear. His faithfulness is so much bigger than our fear!
Call out for the fruits of the Holy Spirit! Joy is one of them! Pray for the theological virtues, Joy is there too!!
Joy doesn’t depend on our external circumstances. Joy is a gift we get when we rest in Him.
I think He’s offering this to us today. Trust that God is doing something good, right now, even if you can’t yet see it through the darkness. As the Rose colored candle is lit today, I hope His light seeps into your hearts and sparks a flame that will continue to burn in this Advent we call life.
Have a blessed Gaudete Sunday!
“Since peace of heart is a pure gift of God, it is something we should seek, pursue and ask him for without cease.”
-Father Jacques Philipp
Today’s devotion was written by Beth Brennan
