3 Advent ...Year A

3 Advent

Year A

December 16, 2007

St Francis, Norris

  Matthew 11: 2-11

ARE YOU THE ONE WHO IS TO COME, OR SHALL WE WAIT FOR ANOTHER?

At the beginning of Jesus ministry, John was the liaison that always seemed to go ahead of Jesus. We heard of John baptizing in the river Jordan when Jesus came to be baptized also. The dove or Holy Spirit descended and pronounced Jesus as the son with whom God is well pleased. Right? So how can John have the audacity to doubt, after being present for such a thing as that? Where is his faith now? What happened?

Last week in Matthews’s gospel John was telling of the coming. The messiah was going to chop all the trees that had not borne good fruit and throw it into the fire. Remember, the ax was already lying at the roots. The threshing floor was to be cleansed and the chaff also was to be thrown into the unquenchable fire. John has spent all this time going ahead and warning people to repent. Scaring them even.  He is in prison because he told Herod he was a sinner for leaving his wife to marry his sister in law. We know John will eventually be beheaded for his insubordination. Criticizing the ruler is usually a bad idea.

A big part of the problem is that John expectations of a messiah were extremely different from the way his cousin, Jesus, was behaving. And why wouldn’t he have different expectations? Look at all the Old Testament lessons that have a warring theme where the underdog defeats a far superior enemy. David vs. Goliath, Moses vs. the Egyptians, Joshua at Jericho to mention just a few notables. There are many, many others. All of these stories have God stepping in and helping the good guys. So don’t think bad of John for wondering why the heck Jesus is holding back. No wonder he asks are you the one or should we be looking for another.

Jesus, as usual, refuses to give John’s disciples a straight answer to this legitimate question they have asked on John’s behalf. I take notice that Jesus is not real big on yes or no answers. Jesus tells Johns disciples to return and tell him what they have seen. Tell him what Jesus has done… How about this answer…Yes I am the one…you need look no further! That is the answer John wants. That is the answer the disciples want. That is the answer the Pharisee’s want. That is the answer Pilate wants. That is the answer you want. That is the answer I want. A direct answer to a direct question doesn’t seem too much to ask, does it? Just to alleviate any doubt some of us may have, you know.

I think, however, that there is great method in this maddening tactic that Jesus employs. Look at it this way; if I tell you that I can balance one of these golf balls on top of the other one…some of you will believe it some of you will not. Either way, you will eventually ask me to prove it, now wont you? So what good does it do me to say yes I can balance them? If I give you an answer like, wait and see or others have watched and know the answer; you leave trying to find out from others if I can or cannot balance them. You might ask Sonya or the kids if I can balance them. I might send Sonya and the kids to tell everyone in church today that I can or cannot balance them instead of showing you right now.

BALANCE

Now you know, don’t you? You saw by what I did…that I can balance them. Now you can tell people in the community that you know for certain that the Priest at St. Francis has talent.

The point is that I had to show you, didn’t I? That is why Jesus is always giving this kind of answer. He realizes that people know by the actions that they see, not by what someone claims they are capable of.

John and most of the Jews and Gentiles that began to follow Jesus were waiting for the moment to take up arms and overthrow the powers that were in control, be they governmental or religious powers. Notice, than John has asked if Jesus is the one to come. Not if he is the one who has come.

 More importantly, John was preaching a gospel of fear and foreboding. Be veruy afraid of my God he is saying. Straighten up and fly right or God will get you. Some people still try to preach the second coming by that method of fear and foreboding of the judgments yet to come.

I have a real problem with the theology of fear. Fear is not the same thing as respect, you know. We do need to have a reverent respect for our creator for certain. Fear seldom motivates anything other than death and destruction. The death penalty has been proven to not be a deterrent for murderers. Think about it. Fearful animals, human or otherwise, are the ones most likely to attack or bite. It’s true.

Fear can bring on paralysis. One reason soldiers and police officers go through the training that they do, is so they can overcome the fear that causes agility and clear reasoning to suffer. When fear attacks the human nervous system the result can be paranoia and depression. Fear has been known to literally kill people. Scared to death is not only an expression. So, how can people possibly think that fear will bring us to a closer relationship with God. If I am afraid of someone I think my tendency is going to be to avoid that person whenever possible. Yet we hear fear tactics in scripture, quite often, especially at this time of year.

I cannot believe that God wants us to be afraid of our relationships. I think the best evidence that this is sound theology is demonstrated at this time of year, every year. Preachers might be preaching repentance and using fear tactics… but what is God doing through the incarnation?

Does it make any sense at all that God would come to us in human form as a helpless child, if He wanted us to be afraid? …No... If God wanted us to be afraid, God would have been incarnate in the form of some superhuman giant or something like that. Babies need care and love, not fear. Babies bring out the very best in most of us. They can offer us nothing. They are totally dependent upon us for their every need. They have an innate need to feel love.

Think of where the birth takes place. Think of the surroundings. Jesus was placed into a trough used to feed cattle. It seems as though we would be much more motivated to embrace and protect this child than we would be to take up arms against anyone, doesn’t it? It sure does to me, anyway.

So, this baby Jesus is God’s judgment for us. Well isn’t that something? All through the scriptures to this point we are fearful of the wrath to come. And this wrath is a helpless baby.  The problem is ours…Our interpretation of Judgments. We are expecting a judgment against us because we know… that is what we deserve. What we receive is a judgment for us. What we receive is the love of God. In becoming one of us, God chooses us. Once again we become the chosen people. WE have no need to ask; if we should wait for another. WE have our answer. Amen