Fr Mike's Message - 12/11/22

The Gospel: ​Matthew 11:2-11
When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 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. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
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? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then 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,
‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
“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.”

Prayer: Lord, you have promised that when two or three gather in your name you will be present with them. We depend on that promise today and pray that you will move among us. Lord, we pray that you have inspired Mike's preparation, that you will enliven his presentation and that you will empower our application. Amen

The Message: The last couple of weeks we have talked about the expectation and anticipation aspects of Advent. That this is a time when we begin to prepare to celebrate the coming of Jesus. One of the questions we should spend some time thinking about is: Who or what are we expecting? What are we basing our expectations on? Why are we expecting who we are expecting?

To be even more specific we should spend some time asking ourselves: "who is this Jesus that we are expecting?"

There is good precedent for this kind of wondering and questioning. In our reading this morning, from the Gospel of Matthew, we find John in a dark and challenging place. This vibrant and dynamic character who just a short time ago was ready to "challenge all comers" finds himself locked away and cut off from the world. 

Do you remember what John called the Pharisees and scribes who came out to see him in the desert in the reading from Matthew last week? "You brood of vipers." This is the same John who publicly challenged and condemned Herod Antipas for his relationship with Herodias. John was not hesitant to call out the behaviors and activities of those in power. But now he is reaping the consequences of his actions. He has been imprisoned and locked away, hidden from public view and public activity. 

Perhaps you remember that last week we talked about how John was not what people, especially the Scribes and Pharisees, expected the new Isaiah to be. The new Isaiah was predicted to be someone who proclaimed the coming kingdom of the Messiah - the conquering hero King. John didn't fit that mold, especially with the Scribes and the Pharisees.

The Scribes and the Pharisees would probably have expected John to condemn the Romans, for occupying the Land of Israel and stifling the free governance and worship in Jerusalem.  They would probably have expected John to condemn those who the Romans put in places of power, like Herod. But they would not expect that he would also condemn them for their lack of spiritual understanding and piety. The Scribes and the Pharisees held themselves in high esteem as the religious "holders of truth." John challenged them and their understanding of who they are and what they are doing. 

But then John's situation and his ability to challenge are suddenly put in jeopardy. Suddenly we find John, because of his changed circumstances, questioning what he had been so sure about when Jesus came to him to be Baptized. This rock of certainty is suddenly questioning unsure and uncertain. 

Now I also said last week that Jesus was not what anyone expected the Messiah to be either. Even John is somewhat surprised by Jesus. 

In the Gospel of Matthew this morning we heard these words: "When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”

Even John is questioning Jesus' activities as the "expected" Messiah.

There is a lot of questioning and wondering going on here in the Gospel of Matthew this week. So, I would suggest that it is OK for us to also review our understanding of who and what we are expecting this coming Christmas. Perhaps you have had an established picture of the coming Messiah. Maybe now would be a good time to take some time and reexamine that picture. Many of the concepts and ideas of our faith were shaped in the early years of our acknowledging that faith was important to us. 

Or perhaps, the concept you have, was developed and grown at various points in your faith journey. A sermon here or a conversation there. Maybe you had a moment when you were spiritually curious and you spent some time looking into a particular aspect of faith and found answers that encouraged your growth and development. 

Maybe you are content with your understanding and don't feel any great need to spend any more time or effort on knowing more about what you feel comfortable with. 

Not all of us find any great need to examine our spiritual understandings and our relationship with the Lord. But if you are in a place where you are feeling a little discontent, or you feel like you might want to take another crack at that nut called spirituality. Now, in this Advent season, is a great time to do that. 

Advent gives us a lot of questions in the readings and there is some wonderful encouragement to dig a little deeper and explore a little more. I mean if John - that rock of certainty and declared assurance - can find himself in a place where he is ready to ask questions perhaps we can "give ourselves permission" to do the same. 

Maybe, like John, we will ask a question expecting one answer and receive another. Jesus in his response to John affirms his Messianic role to John's messengers but then goes on to affirm who John is as well. 
"Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 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. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
​
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 prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 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.’
“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.”

Jesus speaks words of affirmation about himself, and about John because John asked the questions he did. We can sometimes find that it works that way for us as well. When we ask questions and examine our beliefs, and spiritual practices sometimes the Lord may respond and speak words of affirmation and assurance for us as well.   

Jesus' answers about himself are not what John expected in response to his question, but they certainly affirm who Jesus is as the Messiah. Perhaps as we ask our questions this Advent season we will receive different answers to the ones we expect, but hopefully, they will lead us into a deeper and more personal relationship with Jesus the Christ child and the coming Messiah King. 

"Come thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee." Hymn 66