HE RENEWS ALL THINGS
Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11
Dr Verghese Kurien, the Milkman of India and the Father of the White Revolution, helped establish Amul. His brainchild “Operation Flood” became the world’s largest dairy development program and transformed India from a milk-deficient nation in 1949 to the world’s largest milk producer forty years later. He helped farmers improve their financial and social well-being: his work lifted millions out of poverty (three-fourths of the price one pays for an Amul product goes to the producing dairy farmer) and contributed to the transformation of rural India.
What Dr Kurien did for dairy farmers in India, Jesus does for all peoples: he transforms us; he makes all things new!
The readings of today on this Third Sunday of Advent emphasize this renewal and wholeness.
In the first reading, Isaiah announces that the coming of God will cause abundant flowers to bloom in the desert, strengthens feeble hands, makes firm knees that are weak, and brings back the Babylonian exiles. There will be a radical renewal.
In James’ letter, the coming of the Lord is likened to “the precious fruit of the earth.”
This renewal is evident in the gospel, too. Jesus answers John’s question (“are you the one?”) in the language of Isaiah: “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.” What Isaiah foretold becomes reality with the coming of Jesus.
The same Jesus comes again to renew all things – every day and at the end of time. What should we do while we await his coming?
In the words of St James, we ought to “be patient” and wait with “hearts firm” like “the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth”. A farmer waits patiently and productively! When we do this, the Lord will make all things new in his time and on his terms.
Will I wait patiently and productively for the coming of God? Do I believe that he can and does transform my reality or do I look for another because his action does not meet my expectations? How can I be his instrument of transformation?
May we be partners with God in the rainbow revolution and cooperate with him as he makes all things new.
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