The Messiah in Our Midst

The Messiah In Our Midst

Mt 11: 2 – 11

3^rd Sunday of Advent

Introduction

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is asked by the disciples of John whether he is the Messiah. Jesus answers them by pointing out to them what they see and hear happening to the blind, the lame, the dead and the infirmed. He then affirms that John the Baptist is indeed a prophet destined to prepare the way of the Lord.  

The Gospel

² When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples ³ and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” ⁴ Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: ⁵ the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. ⁶ And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

⁷ As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? ⁸ What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. ⁹ What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is the one about whom it is written,

‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way before you.’

¹¹ Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Reflection

The Burden of Doubt and Disbelief

Today is the third Sunday of Advent. This Sunday is distinct from the other Sundays of Advent because it is marked by the lighting of the only rose colored candle in the advent wreath. The distinctive color announces the joy of awaiting the birth of Jesus which is now drawing closer.

This joy is reflected too in our Gospel reading this Sunday. We hear of John the Baptist who had doubts and was quite unsure of Jesus as the Messiah. So he sends some of his disciples to ask Jesus himself whether he was the one who is to come or not.

Jesus answers not with a direct yes or no. Instead, he instructs John’s disciples to tell their master of what they already hear and see happening in their midst. Jesus tells them that “the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead are brought back to life and the poor hear the good news…”  In answering this way, Jesus was practically telling them that he was indeed the Messiah. The Messiah is already here, restoring the brokenness of fallen humanity and announcing the goodnews to the poor.

The second part of this reading is focused on John the Baptist. Jesus himself redirects this focus from himself to John the Baptist. It is interesting to note that each time Jesus says something about John the Baptist, he ends it with this phrase: “ …what did you expect to see?” He says this phrase three times, as if to tell us to look more intensely at the person of John the Baptist.

Apparently, Jesus somehow was rebuking those who came out to see John in the desert and who dismissed him as a mere curiosity for his strange appearance ( what did you go out to see? someone dressed in fine clothing?) and for his firm and unbending message of repentance ( a reed swayed by the wind?). Notwithstanding this misperception about John the Baptist, Jesus himself confirms John as a true prophet.

Today’s reading tells us how Jesus affirms the truth in order to clear and take away whatever doubts that continued to linger and cloud people’s understanding about himself and John the Baptist.

Our uncertainties, our doubts, our unbelief can take a heavy toll on our faith. Our uncertainties and doubts in life constitute some of life’s most difficult burdens to carry. In speaking the truth about himself and John the Baptist, Jesus unburdens the minds of people who had difficulties in believing. While the Messiah came to restore the bodily health and well being of people, he also came to strengthen the faith of fallen mankind who continue in their disbelief despite the signs and wonders that are already apparent in their midst.

Our difficulty in embracing Jesus as the Messiah, like John’s own difficulty, is indeed a heavy burden to carry because we end up blindly rejecting the Lord’s offer of well being and salvation to us. Our difficulty in embracing John the Baptist as a true prophet, like the people’s own difficulty to accept him as prophet, is likewise a heavy burden to carry because we continue to disregard John’s  call to change our ways in preparation for the Lord’s coming.

Doubt no more. Believe. The Messiah is already here in our midst to heal and restore us. With joy and gladness, let us embrace the Lord’s offer of salvation and his good news now proclaimed to us who have ears to listen!

Prayer

Dear Lord, like John the Baptist, I am filled with doubts and uncertainties that cloud my mind and understanding. Take away these doubts and feelings of uncertainties Lord because they burden me so much. You are the Messiah who brings healing and salvation. Bring healing to my woundedness and bring salvation to my life so I may be free from whatever bondage that continues to pin me down in my life. Amen.

^“ For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. “– Galatians 5: 1