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3
Advent
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College students placed a mural outside their dorm window.
Pictured were a school of fish swimming in the same direction.
In their midst was one moving the other way. He was going against the
flow. So must we.
"You go tell John," said Jesus, "that former lepers have
skin that dermatologists envy, that those once deaf are listening to
Mozart, that those formerly blind are enjoying flat screen TV, and
those once paralyzed are playing championship soccer." (F Buechner)
It was the year 28. The summer heat was 104 in the shade.
John the Baptizer was finishing the sixth month as a
prisoner. His dungeon was located in the fortress of Machaerus
overlooking the Dead Sea in southern Palestine.
His jailer was King Herod of Judea. John's crime was that
he had publicly accused the king of adultery. His Majesty wanted
pay-back time. He threw John into a security cell and "threw the key
down a crocodile's throat."
Down in solitary, the Baptist was as restless as a caged
lion. Neither the maddening sandflies by day nor the nocturnal rats big
enough to ride disturbed him as much as his narrow cell. His home had
been the desert that knew no boundaries. He had never lived in a house.
Yet, it was more than the confining space that caused his insomnia.
For several years prior to imprisonment, John's job
description had called for him to announce the imminent arrival of the
Messiah. It was He for whom the Jews had longed for centuries. John had
promised his vast audiences that this
Messiah would enter their lives like a category five hurricane.
John was convinced too that he had met this Messiah and
had even baptized Him.
But never once did Jesus declare Himself the Messiah.
Until He did, there could be no major political coup d'etat that would
have Him crowned and the millennium begin.
So, John still had one major job to do before he would
ship out. He knew he was a dead man walking. He must force or con Jesus
into revealing who He was.
His game plan was to dispatch his disciples to search for
Jesus in the mountains. They would need no bloodhounds to find Him.
They had but to look for a Man surrounded by thousands of groupies.
Jesus had a rock star following. Then he would have them put the
question, "Are you the one who is to come...?"
John felt Jesus must answer the question, for He could not
lie. But John's strategy did not work. The Nazarene did not deny He was
the Messiah but neither did He affirm it.
As He would do so often in His own public career, He
ignored the question and pursued His agenda. He borrowed the poetical
language of Isaiah for His answer. "Tell your leader that the blind
regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear,
the dead are raised."
He e-mailed His answer to John in code. The Baptizer knew
that when the Messiah did appear, these miraculous events would occur.
Jesus knew that John's disciples would surely tell their guru of the
miracles they had witnessed. Christ had performed miracles even
Alzheimer victims could not forget. So, Jesus was telling John that the
prophecies of Isaiah had indeed been fulfilled in Himself. Implicitly,
He fessed up to being the Messiah.
We have no way of knowing John's reaction to the reply.
Probably he was ticked off. But, like it or no, that implicit
affirmation would have to be enough for himself and us. No person, not
even a John the Baptist whom the record shows Jesus admired above all
others, was going to write the script for Him. No one would put Him
against a wall if He did not want to go there. No one would ever force
His hand.
Jesus proposed to reveal His Messiahship in His good time.
There would be no substitute for raw faith either for John or anyone
else down through the centuries.
John, like all others including us, would have to say of
Christ, "I believe even though I look through a glass darkly."
I received this note from a young man dying of pancreatic
cancer. He died shortly after he wrote it. "I am so happy to tell you I
have complete faith in God. He will take complete care of me in life or
death. It is such a wonderful feeling to turn the burden over to Him."
That is the kind of faith the Christ wants us to have in Him.
Faith is not being sure where you're going but going
anyhow. (F Buechner)
This Advent go against the flow.
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http://www.st.ignatius.net/pastor.html
3 Advent
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He was quite a sight, this John the Baptist. He wore clothes of camel
hair, and had a leather belt around his waste. His food was locusts and
wild honey. He told people things that they may not have wanted to
hear. Perhaps you remember last week’s gospel. In it John the Baptist
called the Pharisees and Sadducees a brood of vipers and told them that
they could not expect salvation just because they were sons of Abraham.
He told everyone that they needed to repent. He called people sinners.
And yet they crowded around him. They went out into the desert to hear
him. John the Baptist was so popular that his message was carried
throughout the Roman Empire. When St. Paul first went to Ephesus he
found people there who had heard of John, even been baptized by John,
but who had not heard of Jesus or of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist
was so popular that the writer of the Fourth Gospel, the Gospel of
John, had to make it very clear in the prologue to his Gospel that John
the Baptist was not the Light but came to give witness to the Light.
And now John was in jail, in King Herod’s prison to be exact. He was
there because he did what he had been doing all along, proclaim the
truth regardless of the ramifications. He told Herod that it was not
right that he should marry his brother’s wife. This was not a
politically healthy statement. It ended up costing John his life.
Before he was executed, John inquired about this Jesus who was now
attracting crowds of his own. Jesus sent John’s disciples back to him
to report that the signs of the Messiah were all around: the blind
recovered their sight, cripples walked, lepers were cured, the deaf
heard, the dead were raised to life, and the poor had the good news
preached to them.
Then Jesus spoke to the crowd. "What did you go out to the desert to
see?" What attracted you to John. Was it because he said what was
popular, what was trendy? Was John a reed swayed by the wind? Blowing
one way one day, another way another day. Or was John a proclaimer of
the truth?
The people Jesus spoke to had to admit it: they were mystified by
John’s words because they were straight forward and true. John didn’t
care about anything other than the truth. People were sick of a world
where every fact could be bent a dozen ways to serve the interest of
the speaker. They were sick of the Romans and the Greeks using their
adroitness with language to twist the law or to twist logic to justify
horrible, abominable actions. They were sick of the Temple priests, and
the Jewish religious parties, the Sadducees and Pharisees, using
religion for their own gain. They just wanted they truth. It attracted
them. John fascinated them because he was not afraid of the truth.
People are no wiser now than they were back in Jesus’ day. The way that
people form their own concepts of reality was no different in Jesus’
day than it is now. People are still molding facts to suit their
desires and needs. People are still using religion for their own
personal gain. The truth is still very hard to find in our world.
We have all witnessed family, friends and neighbors twisting truths to
justify every abominable action imaginable. Books are available that
justify every sort of abomination.Many people have discarded the
belief that we will be judged by God according to our actions. They
would rather see God as some sort of a Barney that will sing "I love
you, you love me" to us for all eternity even if we spent significant
portions of our lives singing to God, "I hate you and all you demand of
me." The concept of universal laws has been rejected. It was brushed
aside by an misuse of the word "values" so that the ten commandments
have really been turned into the ten suggestions. Many college
professors report that nearly all of the students who enter the
classroom believe that the truth is relative. Why then should be so
surprised that the truth is whatever people want it to be?
Not all people see the truth this way. There are very good people in
our day in our society, just as there were very good people in Jesus’
day in Jesus’ society. There are good people who have had enough of the
perversion of truth. They are attracted to anyone who will stand for
the truth, regardless of whether it is popular or not, whether it is
convenient or not, whether it is politically correct or not. There are
good people just want the truth. They don’t want a reed bent by the
wind. They want a John the Baptist who will die rather than sway from
the truth.
What do we want to hear when we come to Church? Do we come to hear a
priest saying that sin doesn’t exist, or that maybe for us this or that
sin doesn’t really matter? Or are we attracted to the Church because we
are good people and we want to hear the truth no matter how popular or
unpopular it may be?
I am convinced that we go to Church because we are good people, who
want to be better people. I am convinced that we go to Church because
like the people who went out into the desert to see John the Baptizer,
we are attracted by the truth. I am convinced that we go to Church
because like the people of Jesus’ day, we are disgusted with those
elements of society that pervert truth to serve their own needs. More
than this, I am convinced that all of us want to be freed of the
darkness within ourselves that threatens to enslave us in our own
selfishness. The truth alone can set us free.
This truth that sets us free is more than a concept. It is the Spirit
of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit.
"I am the way, the truth and the life."
In a world that would relativize and pervert every aspect of life to
serve its own self interests, in a world of darkness, we have found
light. That light is Jesus Christ.
"Are you the Messiah, Jesus, or should we look for another?" John the
Baptist’s disciples asked. People of Good Will, people who have heard
angels singing Gloria, have asked the same question throughout the
ages. "Look around," responded Jesus. The signs of the Messiah are all
around you. The time of light is upon you.
Rejoice! It is Gaudete Sunday. Rejoice Sunday. Our joy is far more
profound than the superficial happiness of contrived Christmas
emotions. We rejoice because the light of truth has destroyed the
darkness of sin. We rejoice because we have been drawn by the truth. We
rejoice because Jesus Christ is the truth. He embodies the truth. He is
the truth. And He and the truth are, as the Letter to the Hebrews
states, "The same, yesterday, today and forever."
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http://www.geocities.com/seapadre_1999/
* available in Spanish - see Spanish
homilies
3 Advent
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Bottom line: We can replace complaining with rejoicing; St. John shows
us how.
A pastor once received a package in the mail. When he opened it, it
contained a book. The title surprised him: "A Complaint Free World."
The subtitle said, "How to Stop Complaining and Start Enjoying the Life
You Always Wanted." He asked myself: Is someone trying to tell me
something?
Along with the book they had one of those rubber wrist bands. You are
supposed to put it on one wrist and anytime you complain or make a
negative comment, take the band off one wrist and put in on the other.
He thought that, if he did, his wrists would be raw by the end of the
day. They even suggested that priests and ministers buy "stop
complaining" wrist bands for everyone in their congregation. Well, now,
that sounded tempting. But he didn't go that far.
Still, the book had a good point. We waste a lot of time and energy
complaining. Usually our criticizing does no good. Instead of doing
something positive, we complain to the wrong person about the wrong
thing at the wrong time. And our complaints almost always involve a
negative judgment on someone else - or some group of people. No wonder
St. James tells us today: "Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about
one another, that you may not be judged."
I'd like to suggest something we can do to reduce complaining: I can
consider my situation in relation to others. I may have difficulties
and problems, but what about the next guy? I heard about a man who lost
his job. He was so shattered that he went to see a close friend. When
he got to his friend's house, however, his friend told him that he had
received some terrible news: His friend's wife had been diagnosed with
cancer. All of a sudden, his unemployment seemed small by comparison.
Very few people have had it so bad as the man we heard about in today's
Gospel. King Herod had arrested John the Baptist and thrown him into
jail. Now, in those days, prisons were nothing like today. They had no
television or reading libraries. Prisoners did not get an hour to
exercise in fresh air. They didn't have human rights advocates to
defend them. On the contrary, the guards did all they could to treat
prisoners cruelly and to make their lives as miserable as possible.
But John did not focus his attention on those abuses. When his
followers bribed the guards to get a message to him, what John wanted
to know was this: "Is Jesus the one to come?" John must have
experienced a tremendous joy when he heard the answer:
"The blind regain their sight,
the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear,
the dead are raised."
And most important of all: "the poor have the good news proclaimed to
them."
Imagine how beautiful our lives would be if we could learn from John's
example. No matter what our present suffering, no matter what trial we
are going through, no matter what disappointment has come upon us, we
have cause for joy. We can replace complaining with rejoicing; St. John
shows us how. He focused on Jesus. He saw everything in relation to
him.
This is especially important in our families. Parents have to do their
best to protect their children from negativity. I want to say this
direct: We have to protect our children from negativity regarding the
Mass. We can start complaining about the music or the homily or - God
forgive us - about fellow parishioners. In the process we miss the
incredible gift Jesus wants to give us: His Word, His own Body and
Blood. It is like sitting down to Christmas dinner and instead of
appreciating the ham and sweet potatoes, we are upset because the salad
isn't crisp. We get distracted by the minor stuff - and miss what
really matters.
Like John the Baptist we need to focus on Jesus. The hardships of
prison, everything else that was wrong, he brushed it away like a fly.
John shows us how we can replace negativity with joy. Today we lit the
third candle of our Advent. It has a pink - or rose - color that
signifies rejoicing. Our deliverance is very near. May we be among the
poor who rejoice at this good news.
**********
Spanish Version
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http://www.agreeley.com/homilies.html
3 Advent
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December 16th 2007
Third Sunday in Advent Mt. 11 /2-11
Background:
The early Church continues its dialogue with the followers of
the Baptist in today's story, again "slanting" the story to make it
look like John asked Jesus who he was and Jesus replied by applying to
himself one of the messianic prophecies of Isaiah. We may doubt that
the actual conversation took place the way that is described, though
there certainly was a tradition among the earliest Christians that
Jesus applied to himself the words of that prophecy. From the very
beginning Jesus people understood that a necessary consequence of their
faith was service to those who suffered. This understanding survives
even today as the Pope made clear in his talks at the United Nations
several years ago and as the American Bishops have often done when they
excoriated those in our society who wish to blame the poor and the
elderly and the immigrants not only for their own problems but also for
the problems of the rest of the country. It is not our role to take
positions on specific legislation or suggested public policy. But there
is a meanness and an anger in American public life today which
followers of Jesus cannot accept. Nor can we pretend that it is
acceptable to our tradition that a situation continue in which the rich
get richer and the poor get poorer. The Gospel remains a stumbling
block to those who believe that the way to be a success in the business
world is by cutting the salaries of your workers or firing them.
Story:
Once upon a time a group of young people (teen age boys if the
truth be told) were playing basketball on the parish courts. An bald
African American man, with a large diamond in his ear, strolled up and
watched them. He looked kind of familiar but the boys knew it couldn’t
be. He asked if he might play. He was taller than any of them and they
weren’t sure. He promised he would not rebound. So they let him play.
He was pretty good. In fact he was truly excellent. Without even
working up a sweat, he made three point jump shots, lay-ups, hooks, and
even shots with his eyes closed. Either hand too. They had seen this
style before, but they still didn’t believe it was the one they thought
it might be. Then he spent about fifteen minutes give them tips which
were really radical. Hadn’t they seen this act in TV ads? But it would
never happen in their parish, would it? Then he thanked them for
letting him play and ambled away. They kind of wanted to follow him to
see if he really drove a Chevy, because that would clinched it . But
they didn’t. They didn’t tell anyone about what happened. Who would
believe that MJ himself had come to their school yard and shot around
with them. Besides they didn’t believe it was really him.
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http://www.ctk-thornbury.org.uk/
3 Advent
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Both the first and second of today’s readings speak about water. Isaiah
speaks about the wilderness coming into blossom but this can only
happen when the rains come. And you don’t need me to tell you the
extraordinary transformation that occurs in a desert after even a small
shower of rain.
In the second reading St James invites us to think of how patient the
farmer has to be as he waits for the rains to come in its due season.
This is something over which he has no control whatsoever and yet it is
something on which he entirely depends.
Both of these images would be very clear and striking to their hearers
who lived in a predominantly dry country.
It is coincidental that as a parish we are thinking also about water
during Advent this year since through the auspices of CAFOD we have
committed ourselves to raise £750 to provide a water supply for a
needy community in the third world.
Both these readings invite us to look forward with eager anticipation
to the coming of God’s Kingdom in all its fullness at the end of time.
That day will be a great moment of salvation when all will be put right
and justice for the whole of humanity will be established.
We should see the provision of a water system for a parched village as
one small contribution we can make towards establishing the justice of
the Kingdom.
The provision of clean running water will certainly seem like salvation
to the people of that needy village wherever it might be.
The Gospel reading also has a connection with water since it is about
John the Baptist who used the waters of the River Jordan as a sign of
repentance. Here it is not so much the thirst quenching quality of
water as its cleansing ability that is brought to the fore.
The people come in a spirit of repentance and have their sins
symbolically washed away by John’s baptism.
John’s task was to point to the Messiah. He was the forerunner of
Christ and is therefore the key figure in the Gospels during this
season of Advent. And in this particular reading we are given the scene
in which his followers are sent to Jesus to ask if he is the Messiah.
Because of the way it is expressed by Matthew one would think that John
did not know who Jesus was. Matthew tells us: ‘John in his prison had
heard what Christ was doing and he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are
you the one who is to come, or have we got to wait for someone else?”’
But, of course, John knew quite well who Jesus was. When Jesus came for
baptism John says to him: ‘It is I who need baptism from you.’ Why else
would he say this unless he already knew that Jesus was the Christ?
If we study this question closely we uncover some of the differences
between the evangelists and particularly here between Matthew and Luke.
Matthew does not tell us that John was the cousin of Jesus and neither
does he give any of John’s background. He just tells us that he
appeared in the wilderness and preached a Gospel of repentance.
By telling his disciples to go and ask Jesus if he is the Christ, I
think John is simply trying to get them to recognise what he was
already well aware of. By obliging them to talk to Jesus he hopes that
they will immediately realise who he is and begin to follow him.
John’s role is over by now and he knows that he is to face death at the
hands of King Herod. His task of preparing the way for Jesus has been
accomplished and now he must face his own passion.
John is not hungry for power or glory; he is only anxious that people
should realise that the Christ is living among them and that salvation
is at hand.
Today is Gaudete Sunday and it takes its name from the opening
antiphon; the word Gaudete meaning rejoice. ‘Rejoice in the Lord
always; again I say, rejoice! The Lord is near.’
While the general tone of Advent is rather sober and penitential as
befits a period of waiting for the great feast of Christmas, the Church
is trying to make us aware that it should not be a gloomy time. There
is an element of excitement in the anticipation of Christ’s coming.
As we have said many times Advent is about preparing to celebrate the
anniversary of Christ’s first coming at Christmas but it is also about
preparing for his second coming at the end of time.
Typically this has been portrayed as a day of doom. Preachers have
often painted a dreadful picture of the punishment that awaits sinners
on that day. And we all know about those sombre men who used to appear
on the streets carrying banners that read ‘The End of the Word is Nigh.’
But surely if we are true followers of Christ we should look forward to
that great day with joy in our hearts and not misery on our faces.
Yes, it is a day of judgement; but if we have embraced Christ’s Gospel
of love then we have nothing to fear. If we have repented of our sins
then there is nothing to worry about.
Actually there will be plenty to rejoice in because on that day all
those ancient prophesies will be fulfilled and it will be a day of
justice, a day of salvation. On that day the poor will be lifted up,
the bereaved will rejoice, and the Kingdom of God will be definitively
established.
The only gloom will be on the faces of those who do not repent, on
those who do not accept Christ as their Saviour, on those who reject
the very idea of the Kingdom.
We are in Advent, the season of preparation for one of the great feasts
of the Christian Church. Let us prepare to celebrate our salvation with
great eagerness and our hearts brimming with love and joy.
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http://www.saintvincentarchabbey.org/homilies/index.lasso
3 Advent
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Gospel Summary
John the Baptist, in prison, sent his disciples to Jesus with the
question, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for
another?" Jesus replied that the outcasts of society were being helped,
and the poor were receiving good news. As the disciples were going off,
Jesus told the crowds that John was the messenger sent by God to
prepare the way for the promised one.
Life Implications
John, sitting in Herod's prison, was quite aware of the situation in
Judea. His beleaguered nation, now a province of the Roman Empire, for
centuries had suffered under the oppressive rule of foreign powers. The
people were victims of heavy taxation, violence, and even the
desecration of their holy places and traditions. At times their own
political and religious leaders were unfaithful and oppressive. In face
of this pervasive evil, John believed that his mission was to prepare
the way for the "coming wrath," when God would finally destroy the
evil-doers and establish his kingdom.
John's disciples, probably with some hesitation, told him that Jesus
made no mention of the "coming wrath." Nor was there anything about
rescuing John from prison. Instead, he talked about the blind, the
lame, lepers, the deaf, the dead, and about poor people getting good
news. Jesus, realizing that his message might not fit John's
expectation, added the remark about the blessedness of the one who
hears his words, and does not lose trust in him.
We may find ourselves in situations of violence, suffering and
confusion; and we too will have expectations of how God will intervene.
Isn't our expectation that God's presence will be some manifestation of
superior power to make things right? Jesus realized that only the
humble power of God's love can vanquish the reign of evil and bring
about a new kingdom of justice and peace. Love must actualize itself in
defending and promoting the God-given rights of every human being--the
fundamental right to live and the right to participate with dignity in
the life of the community. Love, which seems most weak, most
impractical, most foolish in the face of evil, is the only force that
can change the human heart.
Only if we are able, like John, to be freed of our own expectations,
will we be able to welcome the coming of the Lord and his way of love.
Then we, also like John, may prepare the way for others to welcome the
Lord's coming.
Campion P. Gavaler, O.S.B
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http://www.christusrex.org/www1/mcitl/lowhome.html
Meeting Christ in the Liturgy
3 Advent
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Isaiah 35, 1-6.10; Psalm 146; Jas 5, 7-10; Matthew 11, 2-11
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Jesus testifies to himself both through his words and his works. He
reveals the kingdom to all who are open to see and to hear the truth.
The disciples of John come to him to hear his testimony. Because they
are open to the truth, they will hear and believe. They will know the
power and peace of the kingdom. The Catechism addresses these signs of
the kingdom in Christ.
The signs worked by Jesus attest that the Father has sent him. They
invite belief in him. (Jn 5:36) To those who turn to him in faith, he
grants what they ask. (Mk 5:25-34) So miracles strengthen faith in the
One who does his Father's works; they bear witness that he is the Son
of God. (Jn 10:31-38) But his miracles can also be occasions for
"offense", (Mt 11:6) they are not intended to satisfy people's
curiosity or desire for magic. Despite his evident miracles some people
reject Jesus; he is even accused of acting by the power of demons." (Jn
11:47-48) (CCC 548)
Let us accept the gift of signs according to the Father's will, never
taking offense at his marvelous providence, in which he promises not a
"hair of our heads" will be harmed. Let us wait upon the Lord in
patience as we ask for all our needs in prayer, confident that he will
never fail to reveal the kingdom to us in Jesus Christ our Lord.
I look forward to meeting you here again next week as, together, we
"meet Christ in the liturgy," Father Cusick
(Publish with permission.) http://www.christusrex.org/www1/mcitl/ |
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Contact Father at cbonar@cfl.rr.com; information about his book of homilies is available at www.clydebonar.com.
3 Advent |
T Isaiah 35: 1-6, 10; James 5: 7-10; Matthew 11: 2-11
"Greater Than John the Baptist"
Introduction
One evening at the city park, a group of
teenage boys were playing basketball. A tall, bald, African-American
man strolled up. The man watched for a few minutes, then asked if he
might play with them.
He made three point jump shots and lay-ups and
hooks with the ease of a pro. The stranger played for about fifteen
minutes with the teenagers, gave them some pointers, thanked them for
letting him play, and ambled on.
The stranger didn't tell the teenagers his
name. They'd seen Michael Jordan on TV, and he looked like him? But,
could this stranger actually be Michael Jordan?
"Are You The One"
In our Gospel, John the Baptist asks the same
kind of question about Jesus. Could Jesus be the Messiah, the long
awaited Anointed One of God? He just didn't know. So John sends his
disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you the one who is to come?"
Many thought the Messiah would be a great
warrior king, like David. Such a hero, David. He slew Goliath. The
young boy against the ten foot tall Philistine powerhouse [1 Samuel
17:4, "he was six cubits and one span tall."]. David loaded a stone
into his slingshot, took aim, and Goliath fell, mortally wounded.
Anointed king by Yahweh himself, David
established the Israelite empire. He captured Jerusalem. Then, with the
trumpets blowing, King David led the parade to bring the Ark of the
Covenant into the holy city Jerusalem.
John the Baptist wondered. Could Jesus be the
Messiah? Christ surely was not like David, Jesus was not a great
warrior king. In fact, Jesus had rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed
donkey. His entourage just a bunch of ne'er-do-wells.
Neither did Jesus seem to be a great prophet.
Some said the Messiah would be another Elijah. The great prophet Elijah
had challenged the priests of Baal, and put them to shame.
Remember the dramatic story (1 Kings 18: 20-40). In a contest on Mt.
Carmel, each prophet would ask their God to set fire to a sacrificial
offering. The priests of Baal dance around their altar until their feet
are sore, their voices hoarse from shouting. But, Baal does not take
their sacrifice.
At his turn, Elijah drenches the altar
with water. Again, three times, he drenches the altar. Until the
offering is awash with water. Then Elijah says to Yahweh, Do your
thing! Lightening flashes, the water sizzles, the sacrifice turns into
a pile of ashes.
What a great prophet, Elijah. But, Jesus
didn't act that way. No stories told of Jesus doing spectacular feats
like Elijah had done.
John the Baptist thinks, Jesus is not a great
warrior, he doesn't act like a great prophet. So, John sends his
disciples to ask, "Are you the one," are you the Messiah?
"Tell John What You Hear And See"
In answer, Jesus says, "Tell John what you
hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, the deaf
hear, the dead are raised."
Jesus did everything the prophet Isaiah told
us to look for. We know these stories, we've read the Gospels. Jesus
reached out and touched the sick, the lame, the paralyzed. Restored
them to health, took away their pain and frailty.
One day walking on the eastern shore of the
Sea of Galilee, a deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to
Jesus (Mark 7:31- 37). Christ put his fingers on the man's ear, and
touched his tongue with spittle. Jesus looked up to heaven, said, "Be
opened," and the man spoke. And, he could hear perfectly.
Another day as Jesus walked along, he spotted
a man blind from birth (John 9:1-17). Christ spat on the ground, make a
paste from the dust, and spread the paste on the man's eyes. Then,
Jesus told the man to wash in a nearby pool of fresh water. For the
first time in his life, the man could see. When asked, he said, "This
man called Jesus spread some mud on my eyes, told me to wash it off."
All the marvel of sight, restored by Christ.
Now able to see, to see people smile as he heard them laugh, to see the
beauty of the flower as well as smell it's fragrance.
Christ would astonish a fever with his
snow-like touch, and the fever would be gone. He would surprise the
hardened limbs of a cripple with his own calm peace, and the arms or
legs would work again.
When John the Baptist asks, Are you the
Messiah, Jesus says, Tell John what you've heard, what you've seen. And
the people saw, all the prophecies had been fulfilled. Jesus was the
Messiah.
"Yet The Least"
Then Christ says something peculiar. "The
least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the Baptist." Why?
Because we're luckier than John the Baptist. We live in the kingdom of
heaven. John only could say, It's coming. We can say, It's here.
Jesus told John, look and see. When we look,
we know we are living in the kingdom of heaven. And a great place to
see the kingdom of God is by looking at our sons and daughters.1
God has a dream, a dream for us to become more and more God-centered.
As we struggle to become more God-centered, our children are our
coaches.
Our children draw us into giving. For mothers,
the 3 a.m. feedings become tender mother-child times. When the child
starts school, and parents become the chauffeur and the helping hand
with homework, bonds of love deepen. Centered in love, we are centered
in God.
Grandparents tell of suddenly having
grandchildren to raise. Set-in-their-ways grandparents again adapt to
hearing teenage music played at teenage volume. Soccer games once more
on the schedule, the big smile on a grandson's face the delightful
reward for the grandparents' showing up at the soccer field.
Our children challenge us to be God-centered. To be giving, like in the
kingdom of heaven.
Sometimes our children pop us right into the
kingdom of God. Marge is an on-call delivery room nurse. One night the
call to the hospital came about midnight, and she did not get home
until just in time to get her son ready for school. The six year old
comes down for breakfast, and says, "You're a nice mom."
Marge asks, "What makes you say that." Timmy tells his mom, "Because
you go out in the dark and help ladies have babies." Marge felt a rush
of love. Love when she was exhausted and needed a pick-me up. An
everyday miracle, a mother and her son living in the kingdom of heaven.
With children, we become experts at forgiving.
Roger listened one night as the family car pulled into the garage.
Coming into the house, his son says, with all hesitation, "I have
something to show you." The driver's side door is caved in, a good six
to eight inches.
A father asks, "Was anyone hurt." After a
short lecture, the lapse in judgment about driving on slippery, icy
roads is forgiven. The car can be fixed.
We also receive forgiveness from our children.
Kathy remembers the day she got tied up at work, forgot to check the
clock, and was a half-hour late picking up her daughter at school.
Feeling guilty, Kathy apologized. With a smile, her daughter answered,
"I know, sometimes that happens to me when I'm with my friends." Mother
and daughter, each forgiving the other.
Forgiving comes as second nature to parents,
because mothers and fathers love their sons and daughters. So too,
forgiveness comes easily from God, because God loves us deeply.
Everyday our children help us to experience
God's kingdom. When Christ told the crowd, "The least in the kingdom of
heaven is greater than John the Baptist," Christ told us we're lucky,
we live in the kingdom of heaven.
Conclusion
Today is the Third Sunday of Advent. In the
Latin Mass, the Introit for the Third Sunday of Advent began: "Gaudete
in Domino semper," "Rejoice in God always." So, we call this Gaudete or
Rejoice Sunday.
On Gaudete Sunday, we do rejoice. Christ said,
Tell John what you saw. The disciples saw the Messiah. As we look and
see love and self-giving and forgiveness, we know we live in the
kingdom of heaven.
Luckier than John the Baptist, all we do is
await the birthday of Jesus. Christ is coming. We rejoice. |
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These
homilies may be copied and adapted for your own use; however, they may
not be
commercially published without permission of the author.
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