Adv3A19.  Isaiah 7:10-14.  The book of Isaiah describes the prediction of the Lord that, despite the present destruction and disaster that was enveloping Israel, God would make things well once again.  God will save all those who have sinned against him.  All will be joyful and give glory to God who will make all whole and holy in him.

Matthew 11:2-11.  John 4:12 states: “When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.”  John 4:17 goes on to say: “From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, ’Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Once John is no longer able to practice his ministry, Jesus takes it up but in much deeper way, since Jesus is the Messiah. John from prison questions Jesus if he is the Messiah or not.  Jesus responds that he doing the miraculous works of the Messiah.  Jesus concludes, “And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me,” which I think means that blessed is the one who finds no short coming in me.  The footnote in the New American Bible for John 11:3 states, “The question probably expresses a doubt of the Baptist that Jesus is the one who is to come(cf. Mal 3,1) because his mission has not been one of fiery judgment as John had expected (3,2).”  Jesus goes on to say that John is more important than a prophet because he has the unique task in all of Bible history to prepare for the way of the Messiah.  Nevertheless, John, while he is on this earth and still himself a sinner, subject to the limitations that being a resident of this world puts on us, is not greater than any saint who is already in heaven.

Romans 1:1-7.  This is the beginning of Paul’s letter to the Romans.  He identifies himself as “a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle” to bring the Gospel and “the obedience of faith” to “all the Gentiles.”  He tells the Romans to whom he is writing this letter that they “are called to belong to Jesus Christ,” which is to say “called to be holy.” Jesus enters this world to bring all who accept him to live with him in heaven.