[Pearls Ep 149: Bringing Sunday into the week.]
Yesterday’s Gospel reading featured that stunning question from John the Baptist, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”
As we discussed in last week’s Pearls video and last Friday’s email, we sometimes encounter this question for ourselves when our expectations are left unmet – when it seems God isn’t responding the way we want to our trials and desires of the heat.
At those times what we need most in our own interior life is to put our expectations aside and recall that we know with certainty that Jesus “is the one.”
We know from the testimony of history that He suffered, died and resurrected for us. Particularly, we know by the gift of faith in our soul, and by the experiences of our life, that Jesus is exactly who He says He is.
However, we are human – and there are those stubborn expectations. In one sense our expectations are very good. The reason we have those expectation is because we believe God is all loving and all powerful. It is healthy that we look to God trustingly and expectantly for what we need and desire.
The flip side is that in our fallen humanity, our expectations can become ultimatums. “God, solve this or else.” The “or else” usually starts out as “Or else, I’ll start to doubt in you,” but can then manifest in several ways – none of them good for us or the people around us. “Or else, I’ll have to take matters into my own hands” … “Or else, I’ll blame myself for not heading this off at the pass” … “Or else, I’ll take it out on people around me” … “Or else, I will sink deeper and deeper into despair” … “Or else, I’ll find some way to numb the pain” and on, and on.
Even if our response seems to be targeted at ourselves, “Or else, I’ll blame myself” – it’s really an expression of frustration with God.
This is precisely why Jesus says to us, “blessed is the one who does not take offense at me.”
Jesus knows our hearts – our strengths and our weaknesses, our needs and desires. He knows it can be very difficult for us to wait on Him.
On Friday we discussed that this is why Jesus told John’s followers to look at the amazing deeds He had done – and to trust in Him on the basis of those deeds, rather than to doubt Him because of what He hadn’t yet done.
And we must do the same. When we find ourselves waiting on the Lord we must bolster our faith by calling to mind all our blessings and the miracles God has worked in our life (many of which we probably don’t even realize).
Jesus promises us that if we do our part to keep trusting in Him even when it is very difficult, that we will be blessed – “blessed is the one who does not take offense at me.”
If you’re struggling to hold on to faith, take this as an encouragement to renew your trust in Christ. And don’t go it alone, reach out to others for support.
And, if you’ve come through a trying situation and can recognize how God has blessed you through that trial – count on the Spirit to call on you to be that support for others.
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.”