“He is the one who is to come.” – Matthew 17:11
A village waited years for the legendary master builder who would restore their crumbling bridge. One stormy morning, a dusty traveler in worn clothes arrived alone, rolled up his sleeves, and began repairing it plank by plank. Villagers scoffed, “That’s not him.” Only when the bridge stood strong did they learn he was the master they had longed for.
God’s chosen messengers often defy our expectations. The people of Israel were waiting for the prophet Elijah to return with spectacular, fiery power as described in Sirach 48. Instead, he came in the person of John the Baptist—a humble, unkempt preacher calling for repentance. Because John didn’t fit their preconceived image, they “did not recognize him” (Matthew 17:12). We can make the same mistake. We look for God’s voice in the dramatic and miraculous, yet He often speaks through the humble, the challenging, or the ordinary call to change our ways. Don’t let your expectations of how God should work blind you to how He is working. The Lord is coming—prepare your heart by listening for His voice, even when it comes from an unexpected place. True preparation often begins with recognizing the messenger we’ve been overlooking.
Today’s devotional–13, December, 2025 ~ www.dailyfaithechoes.org
A Journey of Reflection and Action
- Journal: Where in your life right now are you waiting for God to show up in a “big” or “spectacular” way? Who or what ordinary person/situation might He already be using?
- Scripture Meditation: Slowly read Matthew 11:2–15 and Malachi 3:1. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the “John the Baptists” God has already placed around you.
- Share: Tell someone today about a time God spoke to you through an unexpected or unlikely messenger.
- Group Discussion: “When have we missed God because the package didn’t look like we imagined? How can we train our hearts to recognize His voice in the ordinary people and moments?”
Join Us in Prayer
Lord Jesus, forgive us for the times we’ve looked past Your messengers because they didn’t match our expectations. Open our eyes to see You in the humble, the inconvenient, and the ordinary. Give us hearts quick to listen and ready to repent so that we may truly prepare the way for You this Advent. Amen.
Next Step on Your Journey
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Scripture Footnote & Further Reading
Today’s reflection is inspired by the Catholic Daily Mass readings for the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) – Year A.
Further Reading:
- First Reading: Isaiah 35:1–6a, 10
- Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 146:6c–7, 8–9a, 9bc–10
- Second Reading: James 5:7–10
- Alleluia: Isaiah 61:1 (cited in Luke 4:18)
- Gospel: Matthew 11:2–11
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