Advent 3 2007

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?”

This question from John the Baptist surprises me in the light of his response to Jesus in the baptism scene at the Jordan in chapter 3. I re-read the passage: “then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’” (Matthew 3:13-17)

Among so many pronouns, it is hard to keep track of who heard the epiphany of God, revealing that this one is the Son, the Beloved of the Father. Perhaps only Jesus heard it and therefore when John the Baptist is in prison about to die at the hands of a ruthless and oppressive government, he needs confirmation that his faith has not been misplaced.

We ought to understand John since we also wish affirmation in our faith, especially at the end of our lives when we too face death and wonder about what awaits us. We ought always to keep in mind the Gospel: the good news that Jesus is the ONE, the HOLY ONE of GOD, the Son of the Father, the Messiah, the Christ. We are also baptized into that holy alliance, members of the household of God, sons and daughters of God, beloved of God, and members of Christ’s body, the Church.

The affirmation Jesus gave John is important: “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.” (Matt 11:4-5)

Jesus does the works of God and therefore is of God. Can we recognize the same work among us today? Jesus’ works are examples of reconciliation, restoration, and redemption. The new creation is being established – with clear examples: sickness is turned into wholeness, the dead receive new life, and all people receive the good news including the marginalized and the poor.

The theological term, incarnation, refers to the holiness and righteousness of God being manifested in the person of Jesus. The Messiah expected by John the Baptist would put things right – reverse the fortunes of Israel and overcome the injustice imposed by Roman rulers and other powerful leaders. The Messiah would establish the kingdom on earth. The surprise for John and for us, is that the Messiah of God is willing to work in the form a humble servant, willing to die for the restoration of the relationship we have with God, and willing to save all humanity from their mistaken ideas of power and privilege. Jesus comes in the form of a vulnerable infant and dies the death of a criminal. In his life and ministry the dead are given new life, the deaf hear, the blind see, and the sick are healed. All are welcomed, all are accepted, all are important. The Son of God does the work of God.

Incarnation theology directs our attention to this world, as a place to experience love, to renew faith and to act out our love of God by serving our neighbor. Advent punctuates this expectant joy as we anticipate the coming again of God with US, Emmanuel. It is vital that we remember that the story of the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus is the story of God’s revelation of love to all humanity.

As Christians we are called to a way of life that rejects any separation between “being” and “doing”. Knowing what we believe is the first step into being shaped into whose we are. We receive the divine food and drink to renew our inner being so that we can do the work of God in our day. That tree in the parish hall and all the gifts under it for the children who would otherwise not be celebrating Christmas like our more privileged children are the beneficiaries of God working in this time and space.

The reason our practice of worship includes word and sacrament is that we are formed by both. The Bible is filled with stories of individuals encountering God, being transformed and doing significant things for the society in which they lived. They experienced conflict about what was right – even John the Baptist suffered doubt about whether Jesus was the Messiah – and we ought not be discouraged when doubts arise within us about our status in this world. By taking on human nature, God changed everything by conforming our human nature to the divine nature. Richard Hooker opined, “God hath deified our nature, though not by turning it into himself, yet by making it his own inseparable habitation.” In our Eucharistic petition, “that Christ may dwell in us and we in him” we capture this inseparable union. This means we share responsibility with God in Christ for life in this world.

Are you the one or shall we wait for another, John asked. Jesus answered, look at the works and let them speak – the blind see, the deaf hear, the sick are healed and the dead are raised.

Social transformation begins with an awakening in us that we are not alone. Others matter to us because they matter to God. We love God to the extent that we love our neighbors, near and far. These weighty injunctions of our biblical faith call us into community, to generate good will and resources needed to correct what is wrong. We can build one another up with passion, endurance, with hope and vision. I do not believe God is ever far from any of us, but nearer than breath, the cord that binds us together. Compassion is the sign of our blessed brokenness and the mark of God in our lives.

As we wait this advent for the coming again of Christ in the form of the baby Jesus, prepare to recognize this gift of love, let it be born anew in your heart, and let that gift of compassion and joy spill out of your life and be gift to neighbors, here and everywhere.