Gospel Reflection 2022/2023

Reading 1

The desert and the parched land will exult;

the steppe will rejoice and bloom.

They will bloom with abundant flowers,

and rejoice with joyful song.

The glory of Lebanon will be given to them,

the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;

they will see the glory of the LORD,

the splendor of our God.

Strengthen the hands that are feeble,

make firm the knees that are weak,

say to those whose hearts are frightened:

Be strong, fear not!

Here is your God,

he comes with vindication;

with divine recompense

he comes to save you.

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,

the ears of the deaf be cleared;

then will the lame leap like a stag,

then the tongue of the mute will sing.

Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return

and enter Zion singing,

crowned with everlasting joy;

they will meet with joy and gladness,

sorrow and mourning will flee.

Responsorial Psalm

R. (cf. Is 35:4) Lord, come and save us.

or

R. Alleluia.

The LORD God keeps faith forever,

secures justice for the oppressed,

gives food to the hungry.

The LORD sets captives free.

R. Lord, come and save us.

or

R. Alleluia.

The LORD gives sight to the blind;

the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.

The LORD loves the just;

the LORD protects strangers.

R. Lord, come and save us.

or

R. Alleluia.

The fatherless and the widow he sustains,

but the way of the wicked he thwarts.

The LORD shall reign forever;

your God, O Zion, through all generations.

R. Lord, come and save us.

or

R. Alleluia.

Reading 2

Be patient, brothers and sisters,

until the coming of the Lord.

See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,

being patient with it

until it receives the early and the late rains.

You too must be patient.

Make your hearts firm,

because the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another,

that you may not be judged.

Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates.

Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters,

the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring glad tidings to the poor.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

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."

若翰訪問耶穌

2若翰在監裏，聽見基督所作的事，就打發兩個門徒來問耶穌說： 3「你就是要來的那一位麼？或是我們還須等待別人呢？」 4耶穌回答他們說：「你們去把你們所聞所見的，回報若翰： 5怎麼瞎子看見，瘸子行走，長癩的潔淨，聾子聽見，死人復活，窮人領受福音。 6那不疑怪我的，才是有福的。」

耶穌讚美若翰

7他們離別的時候，耶穌向眾人論若翰說：「你們往曠野看什麼去了？是一科被風搖動的葦子麼？ 8你們到底看什麼去了？是一個穿細軟衣裳的人麼？那穿細軟衣裳的，是在君王家裏。 9你們出去，究竟是為看什麼？是一位先知麼？我告訴你們：他可是先知，而且比先知更大。 10因為他就是「經上」紀載的：我打發我的天神在你面前，給你作前驅，預備你的道路。 11我實告訴你們：凡婦人所生的，其中沒有一個比施洗若翰更大的；但是天國內最小的一個，也比他大。 12從施洗若翰時候到如今，天國可以努力奪取，凡努力的，就能奪得來。 13因為眾先知與法律書所預言的，至若翰為止。 14你們若願意知道，他就是應當來的厄利亞。 15有耳能聽的，聽着！」

基督的福音。