Matthew 11:2 - 11
When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”
Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what 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:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
In the Church's tradition, this Sunday is Gaudate Sunday. It marks a transition in Advent, a movement from judgment and darkness into rejoicing and even exaltation. The peace and justice anticipated in the Isaiah readings to this point in Advent draw nearer and nearer. Hard hearts soften. Injustices are righted. The light dawns.
After lighting purple candles the first two weeks of Advent, on the Third Sunday of Advent we light a pink candle to mark the transition toward joy.
At first reading, the Matthew 11:2 - 11 text seems out of place for Gaudate Sunday. John the Baptizer was in prison. The connection to "joy" is not easily apparent.
In an earlier Advent text, John announced the coming of the Messiah. His idea was that the Messiah was a "wrath to come" (Matt. 3:7), that "already the ax was laid at the root of the trees" (Matt. 3:10). That is, John believed that the Messiah would come to chop down every tree (person) who did not make a moral turn of life away from "sin" and toward God.
Further, he said the Messiah would bring "fire," that is, he cut down and burn up all that was unseemly or immoral (Matt. 3:10, 11).
John believed the Christ would fulfill the Baptist's message of judgment and separation. It seems that John held the common view of the Messiah held by much of Israel that the Christ would come in power to politically overthrow the enemies of God.
So at one level, John was justifiably confused. He sat in prison a captive of Herod with the expectation that Jesus would create an uprising against the Roman government, but that revolt didn't seem imminent. So his question was understandable. "Are you really the Messiah?" he asked. "You're not doing what I expected the Messiah to do."
I can't speak for you, but I've had my share of moments when I've asked God, "Is this really you?" Or, "Are you really leading me this way?" I can't tell you how many times I felt like I was over the edge, or out a bit too far on the limb. Many times I've felt like I was there alone . . . then I would read someone from history who had an experience similar to mine . . . or I would read a contemporary author write honestly about the spiritual life. I received just enough encouragement to know that I may have been "different," but was not completely crazy.
I read John's question and Jesus' response at another level, too. When John's followers asked, "Are you the one?" Jesus didn't answer directly. He said, "Tell John what you see: the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, the dead are raised. People are coming to authentic life."
I believe John was confused, expecting the ax of judgment and the fire of separation. Instead Jesus brought spiritual sight and hearing, healing and wholeness, life and meaning. Jesus' actions fell outside John's expectations, outside his ideas of who and what the Messiah would be.
Frankly, I think we have to be honest and say that John got it wrong. Some of his ideas about the coming Christ led away from, not toward, Jesus.
Jesus, on the other hand, did not castigate John. He did not badger John to change his ideas or his Messiah-framework. Jesus simply said, "Tell John what you see and experience of me. Tell him what I'm doing, how I'm spending my life. If this is what John believes the Messiah is sent to do, then I'm the one. But if he doesn't believe God would send this kind of Messiah, he'd better look somewhere else."
The same admonition could be given to any of us at Advent. Read the Gospels. Notice what Jesus did. What Jesus did, Jesus continues to do. He embodies mercy. He extends himself to persons in compassion. He forgives. He makes persons whole of spirit and mind until they are at peace within themselves. Then he animates those persons to bring peace to the world. He shapes persons, groups and structures for justice.
Is this the kind of Messiah you are looking for? Or are you looking for a judge, someone who divides and separates and sets people against one another and against God? (I'm not offering a caricature . . . there are plenty of people in our world who believe Jesus brings this kind of dividing, separating, nationalistic God-presence.)
So who are you looking for at Advent. Is the one who embodies mercy, compassion and peace who you will see birthed on Christmas Day? If you are looking for some other kind of Messiah, then you'll likely miss the birth of the Savior on Christmas Day.
But if you are open to a Messiah who brings sight to our blindness, hearing to our deafness, and life to our deadness, then Jesus is the one you have waited for.
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