[ 2019 December 15th
-- 3rd Sunday Advent ●
Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10 ● Psalm 146 ● James 5:7-10 ● Matthew 11:2-11 ● ]
[_01_] It is better to PERSUADE rather than to
OVERPOWER , to persuade rather than to “make” someone believe anything. “Persuasion” is different than power or
overpowering.
In the Gospel this Sunday, it seems
that John the Baptist needs to be PERSUADED ..because he does not believe. What can make him believe? Is that the point of
this Gospel that Jesus our Lord is trying to make J.T.B. believe?
What I am suggesting is that Jesus is
trying to “sell” or “persuade” NOT
John the Baptist but that Jesus is trying to persuade + teach the disciples of
John (JTB). It's kind of... a conspiracy...
J.C. + J.T.B. are trying to persuade
the disciples of John to believe and they are in on a plan together.
[_02_] We read the Gospel about John the Baptist –
punished and in prison at the end of his life and he is asking a question that
seems to betray some doubt, disbelief. But, John the Baptist is a true
believer. Maybe… yes ..he wanted the
Messiah to be a bit less SILENT .. and more SPECTACTULAR. Yet, JTB is a true
believer.
What does it mean to trust / believe ?
[_03_] In his book/essay on FAITH / CONFIDENCE IN
GOD Josef Pieper wrote that BELIEF – BELIEVING – in a proper sense is not
simply about a proposition which I
can comprehend…. But also about
a person whom I can connect to
…
In other words, “believing” is not just about
INFORMATION, but about RELATION and RELATIONSHIP.
A person might tell you about a book
you should read, a place you should visit … or whether you should get the iPhone or Android …but it’s
not just about what is being said but who is saying it.
The person and proposition.
[_04_] John the Baptist does not simply believe in
Jesus based on a calculation…but on a commitment.
So why does John ask this question? It
seems that John is becoming like the “doubting and absent Thomas” after the Resurrection, late in life.
John
does not believe simply out of a calculation but also out of a commitment and
personal understanding, personal relationship with Christ.
No one could make him believe. John
believed. Or, did he?
St. Jerome in his commentary on
Matthew’s Gospel wrote that John does not ask the question – “are you the
Christ?”- because John himself needs more mathematical data to solve an
equation.
Rather, John is believing…but he is not
so sure about his disciples. He wants them to learn something.
[_05_] Consider, for example, a teacher says to his
or student and tells them go home after school and tell your siblings or
parents something that you learned today about history or geometry or biology.
You teach them, you tell it on the
mountain!
The teacher is saying this not for the
parents’ edification or education, but rather to make the child a responsible
messenger and comprehensible messenger to others.
In a similar way, a parent might say
to a child… I want you to ask the teacher this question..then you come back and
tell me what you heard. Even if the parents already know this.
The
disciples are sent by God not simply to be bike messengers carrying packages
back and forth between Jesus and John…but rather to be evangelists themselves.
Jesus says: “you go and tell John what
you see and hear, the blind see, the deaf hear, … and blessed is he who takes
no offense at me. ”
The “aim” of his persuasion is not to
reach the profile page and account of John the Baptist … but that the disciples
of John will recognize and teach about Jesus as the Messiah.
Jesus and JTB are in on this plan
together.
[_06 _] What does this mean when we say that the
blind see…the deaf hear…
We may not have witnessed such medical
miracles and physical transformations?
But, have we not witnessed the power
of faith and confidence in God of those who might be debilitated and
discouraged… aged, infirm, physically ill…. That they sometimes see …hear and
have motivations – through their faith that is beyond what is possible for the
more “physically healthy.”
St. Paul writes … “when I am weak it
is then that I am strong…” This is the sign of the Messiah in our lives. And…
that we are persuaded..that we believe.
(This
may be “acceptable/good theology”…but does it really relate this Gospel?).
[_07_] So,
Jesus and John the Baptist are in on this plan together, to teach the
disciples.
I’d like to use an example
Many years ago, when the kids in our family
were smaller and my mother was driving us all over the place to/from school or
to other places, there was one child who did not believe – or behave –
regarding the importance of wearing a seat belt.
This was the youngest of my siblings –
she did not want to wear her seatbelt. And, I admit this was a different time
and era when people were less compliant and committed to the safety of seat
belts in cars.
So, my sister not wearing a seat belt.
She does not believe, she does not behave, and no amount of arguing was
convincing her.
One day, my mother approaches a local
police officer and asks him – not to arrest her slap the metal handcuffs on my
5-year old sister’s wrists – but rather simply asks – or gets my sister to ask
…what about wearing a seat belt… ? Is that important?
So, the police officer was in this
plan. He was in on it.
My mother did not need to hear the
answer, my sister needed to hear the answer. Sometimes we need to ask and
answer certain questions and hear the answer ourselves.
And, yes, my sister did start wearing
her seatbelt, understanding what was good.
John the Baptist and Jesus were in on
this plan together.
As a parish priest, it is also my role
not to get you to believe me, to listen to me, but to lead you closer to God –
who is good - and to his love and mercy – what is good.
Even as parents, is not your goal not
simply to get your children to listen to you, but to listen to God, the Holy
Spirit? You and God are in on the plan together.
Are you in on the plan?
Are you up for this conspiracy? [__fin__]
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