Speaking Another Language

​​A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, December 14th, 2025:
Third Sunday of Advent

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Matthew
​11.2-11

​When John the Baptist heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples who said to Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”

Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.”

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then 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, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’

“Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

​Pause. Pray. Reflect.

I cannot count the number of times I have read this Gospel and, in frustration, asked myself why Jesus doesn’t just answer the question with a yes or a no. Why does He have to “wax poetic”? I have read many pieces of scripture and asked myself a similar sort of question: why doesn’t Jesus just speak plainly? Then I remind myself that Jesus did not live in the year I am living. No one in the time of Jesus spoke the way we speak today.

When Jesus answers the disciples of John the Baptist, He answers in the style that the people of His day recognize. Jesus has to back up His answer with scripture; a simple “yes, it’s me” respond will not do. By referencing scripture, Jesus demonstrates to the crowd His knowledge of the prophets and so a knowledge of what is truly being asked by John. Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah, who speaks to the way things will unfold at the coming of the Messiah. 

So, what does this mean to you and me today? Well, to me it means that Jesus understands the language I speak because God transcends time; but it doesn’t mean that I understand the language of God. The words I use and the ideas I hold have been born out of the world I live in, and that worldly language is not the same as the language of God. Consider how the world tries to redefine things like gender, marriage, love and life. 

The Gospel today calls us to learn a new language, His language, which speaks the truth and the love of God in a way that contradicts the world but also loves the world in the midst of its sinfulness. God’s love is not a permission to sin but a relationship that invites those who are open to leave sin behind and to follow the Lord. We will know that we are leaving sin behind when we are healed of our blindness and our spiritual sickness. 

Perhaps you have been on this journey of faith for a while now, and when you look back at the journey you can see how your language has changed. I don’t mean that you swear less (although that would be a good thing). I mean that you speak differently in prayer. Maybe your prayer used to be about asking for things only and now your prayer includes thanksgiving; or you used to pray only for other people and now you see the importance of praying for yourself. This is what it means to learn a new language in faith. 

Take time during your prayers to ask for the grace to hear and understand God’s voice, trusting that He will answer this prayer.


​
Sr. Teresa MacDonald

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