Mt.11:2-11
Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) was an American novelist and short story writer. When he died in 1864, he had on his desk the outline of a play he never got a chance to finish. The play centered around a person who never appeared on stage. Everyone talked about him. Everyone dreamed about him. Everyone waited for his arrival. But he never came. All kinds of minor characters described him. They told everybody what he would do. But the main character never appeared. — The Old Testament is something like Nathaniel Hawthorne’s play. It too ended without the main character’s appearing on the stage. Everyone talked about the Messiah, everyone awaited his arrival. But he never came in the Old Testament period. In today’s reading, we hear Isaiah describing what the Messiah would do by bringing salvation to all mankind. – Today’s Gospel tells us that when the real Messiah came, even the last prophet and the Messiah’s herald, John the Baptist, could not believe that he was the expected Messiah. (Mark Link S. J.)
We have reflected last Sunday that he was prepared by God to welcome the Savior. He became an instrument of God to assist the people of Israel in welcoming their saviour. However, in today’s gospel passage, we learn that John, who was already in prison, was experiencing a kind of dark night of the soul. He sent his disciples to confirm whether Jesus was the Messiah or if they needed to wait for someone else. John, who prepared himself in an intense, ascetic manner and as an icon of faith, now experiences a kind of fragility in his faith as he passes through these difficult moments of his life in prison. Perhaps Jesus’ activities were as John would have expected, like those of a militant Messiah who would be destroying all the enemies of Israel. Anyhow, nothing of the sort happened. Moreover, Jesus did not do anything substantial, like wage a war or engage in conflict, to free John, who prepared the way for him and pointed him out to the world.
Jesus could have just pacified John’s doubt with a simple “yes.” Nevertheless, Jesus quotes the prophecy concerning him: “The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with a skin disease are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.” (Mt. 2:5) Quoting this prophecy concerning him, Jesus wanted to give John the Baptist hope, courage, and consolation. Jesus was not ready to give to John; he respected the person of John and his hard work in preparing the people of Israel for his coming. We see Jesus proclaiming to the world the real identity and greatness of John. It is true that John was behind prison bars, yet he was the person chosen by God as his divine messenger. Though John felt wavering to acknowledge Messiah, Jesus affirms that John is strong and convinced in his faith quoting his ascetic way of life such as his solitude in the desert, strict dress code like camel skin and leather belt. Jesus raises him to the heights by stating that no one is greater than John the Baptist, born of a woman, because of the divisive role that he played in the history of salvation. He was he end of a great era, who awaited Messiah, the lasts of all prophet. All the same he was also the beginning of new era who was fortunate enough to show the world their redeemer and privileged to be one of his first martyr.
As we reflect on this passage today, let us be aware that we are never alone in our faith journey. Like John the Baptist, we too may encounter moments of darkness and doubt the presence of Christ in our faith journey. The readings of the day assure us that we are never alone. Jesus strengthened John with his words, reminding him about the prophecy concerning him. He also acknowledges all that John accomplished for Christ and his kingdom. In our moments of darkness, Jesus is there by our side to strengthen us with his words and Eucharistic presence in our hearts. At times we may feel that Lord is not acting instantly. The second reading taken from the letter of St. James exhorts us: “Be patient, therefore, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord.” The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and late rains. You also must be patient. “Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.” (Jas.5:7,8) The Lord knows our present moment from his eternity. We may think that Why did Jesus did not act when John was imprisoned? It was God’s plan that John the Baptist should be remembered in history as the one who came to testify the truth without compromising his vocation as a prophet. Similarly, Jesus is always present in our lives, and he knows what is best for us. May this advent season help us to grow deeper into this awareness that even when we pass through the dark moments, Christ is present in our lives and may our adherence and openness towards the Word of God will help us to grow in this conviction.