[Pearls Ep 149: Preparing for Sunday.]
To play the role of “masters of the obvious” – Advent prepares us for Christmas, and Christmas is a time for gifts.
And, as we discuss in this week’s Pearls of the Interior Life, Christ has a gift for each of us.
And we know many of you reading this have heavy hearts – whether it’s a loved one who is struggling, or health issues, or financial troubles, or any number of things that you might be bringing to the Lord during this Advent.
This Sunday’s Gospel reading (copied in the postscript) is a message of hope just for you. Particularly the exchange between Jesus and John’s followers.
John sends his followers to Jesus with this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”
There is no consensus among the Church Fathers and scripture scholars on what John was thinking. Opinions include:
- John had no doubt who Christ was, but he wanted his followers (who may have doubted) to hear from Christ directly.
- John believed Christ was the Messiah who would occupy the Throne of David, but did not know whether Jesus would also be the one to descend to the netherworld and liberate the dead.
- John was beginning to have his own doubts about Jesus and whether He was truly the Messiah.
To the extent that John or his followers doubted, it would have been in large part because Herod, who was the Jewish king, had imprisoned John. And yet Jesus was believed to be the heir to the Throne of David – why hadn’t Jesus deposed Herod, freed John, and set things straight?
Jesus responds by saying, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.”
Jesus is saying, in so many words, I know I’m not handling the situation the way you expect, but look at these other miraculous things I’m doing, and believe in Me because of those deeds.
This is a vital Christmas message for all of us.
In Day 8 of the 30 Days to Christian Meditation we discuss the importance of collecting our “pearls” – those parts of our history that reveal God’s specific and personal love for each of us (often through the people He places in our life).
This is related to “counting your blessings,” but taken a number of steps deeper. The goal is to dig deeply and extract those events that are at the core of your being, and to adorn them with as much detail as possible. This is best done in the setting of Christian meditation so that the Holy Spirit guides you.
Your pearls are particularly relevant this time of year because they dispose your mind and heart to expect Jesus to answer your Advent prayers come Christmas.
Will He answer our prayers the way we expect? In most cases, no.
And that is the key to this Sunday’s scripture. Advent is a time to stir up our faith and our trust that Christ is listening and that He will respond to the deepest desires of our heart with a Christmas gift. It may not be what we are expecting, but if we have properly prepared our heart, we’ll find it’s much better.
Blessings on your journey with Christ –
Steve and Karen Smith
Interior Life
Postscript: Matthew 11:2-11
When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”
Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”
As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why 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:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.
Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”