By Rev. Canon David B. Tabo-oy
v2When John the Baptist heard in prison about the things that Christ was doing, he sent some of his disciples to him. v3″Tell us,” they asked Jesus, “are you the one John said was going to come, or should we expect someone else?” v4Jesus answered, “Go back and tell John what you are hearing and seeing: v5the blind can see, the lame can walk, those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead are brought back to life, and the Good News is preached to the poor. v6How happy are those who have no doubts about me!” Read: Matthew 11:2-11
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This Sunday is the 3rd in the Advent Season. It is called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice. The tradition for the third Sunday of Advent includes lighting a third rose or pink candle that is a symbol of joy. This third Sunday of Advent we read, pray, and reflect on the joy that God’s plan gives us (foretold by the prophets and fulfilled by the life and death of Christ), and we meditate on the promise of Christ’s coming glory-filled return. Advent is a season of waiting, expectation, and preparation for the coming of the Messiah. Our gospel reading according to Matthew tells us of the joyous news that the disciples are instructed to relay to John the Baptist in prison: “…the blind can see, the lame can walk, those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead are brought back to life, and the Good News is preached to the poor.”
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From a prison cell, John the baptizer sends emissaries to Jesus to inquire whether he is the Messiah. Jesus sends John’s disciples back to him with instructions for them to report the wonders they have witnessed. Jesus pays tribute to John but declares the priority of the kingdom that is breaking out. John the Baptizer, so confident when Jesus went to be baptized by him, had second thoughts while in prison. Everything had been taken from him — his preaching, his mission, his opportunity to call others to repentance. He found himself in a horrid fortress in the desert, imprisoned by a frightened Herod. Apparently even in captivity John heard about his cousin Jesus and his ministry. But John certainly did not learn of any change in the system the Romans and the high priests had established. The Holy Way, the way he himself had been asked to prepare, was still being traveled by “the unclean.”
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One could hardly blame John the Baptist for experiencing doubts about the true identity of Jesus. His outspokenness in front of King Herod had earned him imprisonment in a dungeon and the prospect of death. Anxious to find out if Jesus was the promised one for whom he had prepared the people by his preaching, John sent messengers to Jesus with the urgent question: ‘Are you the one that is to come or are we to await someone else?’ The reply given by Jesus indicated that his ministry was one of healing and life-giving. The deaf were hearing; the blind were seeing. People were beginning to experience a new life and the poor were receiving the good news that God was on their side.
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Uncertain, scary, and helpless times can shake one up and cause doubts in one’s faith. Today’s Gospel is a good reflection of our spiritual journey. We can be like John the Baptist. When we are moved by the Holy Spirit, we vow to follow God. It is very clear and true. Or when we receive blessings, we are sure Jesus is our Savior. When we face adversity and disasters, we question if Jesus really is the Savior. We question why bad things happen, why God is not there for us, and doubt even if God really exists. We tend to think God only exists when we are in good times. That is our preconceived idea of our Savior and why we are in doubt when things do not go our way. We are wrapped up in our own world and cannot hear or see God’s presence. The question asked by John has relevance in every age and is of importance to us, because the basic requirement for entry into the kingdom of God depends on welcoming Jesus and placing no obstacles to his entering in our lives. This gospel presents the problem of our acceptance or rejection of Jesus as the One, the prophesied Savior.
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Desmond Knowles points that the season of Advent is an opportune time to assess what impact or influence He has on our behavior by turning over in our minds and hearts the values that are reflected in our actions. Our Lord had time for failure, for the wounded heart and the bruised soul and we shape his kingdom by bringing his compassion wherever it is needed. His work continues in every age. The many and different guises in which Christ appears never cease to amaze. Very often he comes to us in the flesh and blood of people whose sins are so obvious and who are thirsting for the healing contained in a word of comfort and encouragement. What matters is that we are always ready to greet him. The best preparations for Christmas are deeds of kindness which make Christ’s presence felt in a new way in our lives and the lives of others.
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Indeed, if we keep our eyes and ears open, we will hear and see plenty of God’s mighty work literally and metaphorically even in bad times. We will be able to go and tell. It is time for us to share the good news and hope with others especially with those who are in doubt. Br. Curtis Almquist of Society of Saint John the Evangelist writes in one of his daily meditations that: “All of that stuff that isn’t right yet in us and in those whom we love will be satisfied and healed, but most likely it won’t all happen in this life. And in the meantime, sometimes a very mean time, we continue to come back to Jesus to be reminded of his real presence with us, and his provision to meet our immediate and ongoing needs.”
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We are waiting in uncertainty but we are waiting in hope because of Emmanuel – God’s presence with us. In the last few weeks, we have been reading from the Prophet Isaiah. He has been bringing the good news of Emmanuel to us. Today Isaiah says: “They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, ‘Be strong, do not fear!’ … And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 35)
Yes, the Lord shall return.
This third week of Advent is joy. When we can see and hear God’s presence – Emmanuel, in good times and bad times, and know God is coming again, absolutely that is joyful!
Let us pray.
Lord, would you restore the joy of our salvation? Help us to be willing to follow you with all we have. As we read the Scriptures that remind us who you are and the ways you love us, ignite in us a sense of joy that overflows out of our hearts! Let this holy joy be contagious and spill over onto the lives of those around us. May your peace that surpasses all understanding be upon us…especially as we’re wrapping up a year that has felt very scary and uncertain. Encourage our hearts with the knowledge that with you we can live in your perfect peace, no matter our circumstances. We thank you for the joy and peace you give! Amen. (Crosswalk.com)
