16.12.2007 - 3rd Sunday of Advent
- Year A
First Reading; Isaiah 35,1-6.8.10 Psalm 146 Second Reading; James 5,7-10
Gospel Reading; Matthew 11,2-11
To believe is to have a relationship of faith like that of a child for his father
or his mother. A child trusts in the arms that carry him and the hands that
guide him, but also that his parents words will not lie to him. Our belief in
God is a serene trust in his love and an openness to his Word. We have wonderful
examples both in the Holy Scriptures and in our every day life. The life of
Abraham is described in the bible as a great act of faith put into practice.
Abraham believes in God's love and obeys God in leaving Carran and later in
offering his son as a sacrifice. Another example of faith which is very dear
to us, is the life of Mary: she listened to the Word of the prophets given to
her by the archangel Gabriel and took it seriously. She was aware of what was
happening to her and remembered and compared it to the Word and was strengthened
in faith. She believed in God and in his Son, even when he spoke from the cross.
She remained faithful to his Word and accepted to live the rest of her life
with the disciple that Jesus loved. Abraham and Mary are the examples that are
most vivid for Christians, but every day our calendar bears the names of saints
who give us an example of how to live and all of us carry a memory within us
of some dear person whose decision taken in faith, sustains us in our efforts
to overcome the temptation of incredulity.
We are particularly impressed by Jesus' last words about his forerunner, John
the Baptist: "of men born of women there is none greater than John the
Baptist, however, the smallest in heaven is greater than he". His praise
of John is the greatest that can be given a man; no-one is greater than him,
not even those who are called "Great" by men! And yet there is another
order of greatness which cannot be compared with what we normally consider great;
it is the greatness that exists in the kingdom of Heaven. What did Jesus mean?
Those who have been baptised are immersed in divine life, in the mystery of
the death and resurrection of Jesus himself: this is a different greatness,
unknown by the men of this world; it is the greatness of God! John baptised
with a baptism of penitence which prepared for the kingdom of Heaven, the kingdom
where Jesus is king. He was not able to enter, however, he was not able to be
baptised by the disciples or to participate in the mystery of Easter or to be
nourished by the body and blood of Jesus. Jesus certainly did not intend to
humiliate John with his words, who is surely with the saints in heaven now,
but rather to encourage us to become disciples.
John was in prison because of his frankness in reminding everyone, even the
powerful, of God's Word. He knew that he had announced the Messiah, but he could
not see the signs that he was expecting of him. This is why he sent his disciples
to Jesus so that he could be assured. Jesus' answer was beautiful! He did not
say yes or no, but told them to look and compare what he was doing with the
signs promised by the prophets. John knew the words and the oracles of the prophets
and he knew that the Servant of God would open the eyes of the blind, the mouths
of the dumb and that the lame would run and the paralysed would get up and walk.
The prophets had described these things and now they were happening. The Scriptures
and what was happening were in accord. From this we can understand how important
the Scriptures were for Jesus. If we had as great a love for them as we do for
God and his Son, we would be more discerning about what happens around us and
would be of greater service to the world.
St James gives us an example of discernment in his letter. God's promises are
slow in being kept; Jesus is slow in coming. What should we do? Look at the
prophets: they are models of long suffering and patience; so let us practice
patience! Even nature gives us an example! The farmer must be patient for a
long time after sowing! Let us sow the Word of God and pray and be patient and
let us not precede God's wisdom in complaining to each other. Let us be joyful
and merry because God will keep his promises! "Be courageous! Do not fear!
Behold your God! He comes to save you!" John the Baptist's efforts will
be rewarded, his doubts have already been resolved! Jesus is the one to come,
who has already come, who will come!