Dec 15, 2013 Advent 3

Matt.11:2-11

 2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
   4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[a] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
   7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
   “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
   who will prepare your way before you.’
   11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

 “Looking For Christmas”

E. B. White, author of Charlotte’s Web, once said:  “I wake up in the morning torn between the desire to enjoy the world and to improve the world.  That makes it difficult to plan the day.”

I wake up during Advent torn between the desire to enjoy Christmas - and all that goes into getting ready for it; and the desire to change what we have done with this holy event.

To stop all the noise, distortion, sentimentalism, and commercialism which reeks with hypocrisy and distorts terribly the meaning of Christmas.

The important thing in all this is that we anticipate, prepare, look, wait for Christmas to happen anew, now where it is obvious, but where it is hidden.

This is the mystery and miracle of Christmas:  it comes in the most unlikely places.  John wasn’t sure it was in Jesus - who was too soft for John.
We too are not always sure where God is in our midst - is God really there in the infant holy, infant lowly?


“Who’s Who In God’s Kingdom”

John the Baptist, according to Jesus,  was greater than any man who has ever lived.  Yet not even John was fit for the Kingdom of heaven.  Our greatness does not make us fit; God’s grace does.