Posted: 12/10/2010 7:58:15 PM EDT
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December 12, 2010
Gaudete Sunday First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-6a,10 1 The land that was desolate and impassable shall be glad, and the wilderness shall rejoice, and shall flourish like the lily. 2It shall bud forth and blossom, and shall rejoice with joy and praise: the glory of Libanus is given to it: the beauty of Carmel, and Saron, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the beauty of our God. 3 Strengthen ye the feeble hands, and confirm the weak knees. 4 Say to the fainthearted: Take courage, and fear not: behold your God will bring the revenge of recompense: God himself will come and will save you. 5 Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6a Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall be free: for waters are broken out in the desert, 10And the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and shall come into Sion with praise, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. Second Reading: James 5:7-10 7 Be patient therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth: patiently bearing till he receive the early and latter rain. 8Be you therefore also patient, and strengthen your hearts: for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Grudge not, brethren, one against another, that you may not be judged. Behold the judge standeth before the door. 10Take, my brethren, for an example of suffering evil, of labour and patience, the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord. Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11 2 Now when John had heard in prison the works of Christ: sending two of his disciples he said to him: 3 Art thou he that art to come, or look we for another? 4 And Jesus making answer said to them: Go and relate to John what you have heard and seen. 5 The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he that shall not be scandalized in me. 7And when they went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: What went you out into the desert to see? a reed shaken with the wind? 8 But what went you out to see? a man clothed in soft garments? Behold they that are clothed in soft garments, are in the houses of kings. 9 But what went you out to see? a prophet? yea I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written: Behold I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. 11Amen I say to you, there hath not risen among them that are born of women a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is the lesser in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Overview of the Gospel: * Last week we heard John the Baptist announce the coming of the Messiah. John is now imprisoned by King Herod for speaking out about his adulterous and incestuous marriage (Matthew 14:1-12). According to the Jewish historian Josephus, John was held at the palace-fortress of Machaerus, on the shore of the Dead Sea. * From prison, John sends his discouraged disciples to ask Jesus point blank if he is the Messiah, the conquering king long awaited by the Jews. John himself had no doubts about Jesus’ identity (Matthew 3:13-17; John 1:29), however he wanted his disciples to go directly to Jesus, to find out why they should believe he was the Messiah, and begin to follow him, not John, who was about to be executed. * Jesus replies by showing how he has fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah (verse 5; Isaiah 26:19, 29:18-19, 35:5-6, 61:1; Matthew 8:1-7). * Jesus also testifies to the great dignity of John the Baptist. He was the long awaited prophet (Malachi 3:1; Matthew 11:13-14) whose privilege it was to announce the Messiah, greater than any prophet who had come before (Matthew 13:17; 1 Peter 1:10-12). As great as he was, however, Jesus says there is someone greater (verse 11)! Questions: * The 1st Reading from the prophet Isaiah describes a time of renewal, rest and refreshment in the age of the Messiah. How has Christ at least begun to fulfill these promises since his coming? In your life and the life of believers today? In a completed way at the end of time? * In the 2nd Reading, for what event is St. James urging his readers to patiently await? For what reason are they to exercise this patience? What OT examples can you think of (verse 10)? * In the Gospel Reading, who questions Jesus (verse 2)? How did John wind up in prison (Matthew 14:1-5)? * Why did John send the questions that he did? Does Jesus answer John’s questions more with promises or with evidence? Why? How might John, who knew the Old Testament well, have interpreted Jesus’ reply (see Isaiah 35:5-6; 61:1)? * How was John unlike a weak reed or a well-groomed politician? What does Jesus say about John (verses 9-11)? Why was he greater that the Old Testament prophets? How is a New Testament believer greater than John the Baptist (verse 11; see Matthew 18:3-4)? * What kind of “prisons” tend to bring out doubts for you regarding Jesus? In those periods of discouragement and doubt, what most renews your courage and faith? * In what specific way can you be an encourager to someone in Church ministry? In your family? Among your friends? |
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* How was John unlike a weak reed or a well-groomed politician? What does Jesus say about John (verses 9-11)? Why was he greater that the Old Testament prophets? How is a New Testament believer greater than John the Baptist (verse 11; see Matthew 18:3-4)?
Wow! Talk about imagery! The Lord can sure call it like it is. Think about it: today we have polls and PR people for everythinhg to see "which way the wind is blowing." Yet Jesus asks us if we just saw a wishy-washy, please like me, let's feel good all over "Barney" out in the desert. Nope. St. John the Baptist spoke the truth. He was preparing the way for the Lord. My own personal metaphor for St. John is a "bridge." He literally connects the Old with the New Testament. He was actually a cousin of the Lord. The common Jewish belief is that there had been no prophecy in Israel since the last of the Old Testament prophets, Malachi. The coming of a new prophet was eagerly awaited and Jesus agrees that John is a prophet, and much, much more! John is, in fact, the precursor to the Messiah, who had arrived in the form of Jesus. When you have this prophet actually physically pointing to the Annointed of God, then the messianic reign is at hand. What greatness! With the actual arrival of Jesus on earth, the "good news" was finally here; the word made flesh to live among us. St. John preached the future coming of the new age; he did not live on earth to see it blossom with our Lord. 
"Lord, give me the courage and strength you gave to St. John the Baptiser to speak your truth." |
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* Why did John send the questions that he did? Does Jesus answer John’s questions more with promises or with evidence? Why? How might John, who knew the Old Testament well, have interpreted Jesus’ reply (see Isaiah 35:5-6; 61:1)?
John was in prison at this point, and must have been full of doubt and despair. Wondering if the suffering he was enduring was really worth - is Jesus really the Messiah or is it all in vain? We all have moments like this, don't we? For some of us, it may just be a fleeting thought - what if the atheists are right? - while for others, doubts loom heavy over us in our sufferings. But just like John, we need only look to the Lord himself to be lifted up in hope! Ask him for greater faith and hope - he will deliver it. Jesus never gives a straight answer!! That would be too easy. Just like any good teacher, he knows how to answer in a thought-provoking way to lead the questioner to the correct answer. So he quotes scripture and basically leaves them to draw their own conclusions. John, knowing the scriptures would have immediately picked up on this. And so it is for us as well. It would much easier if we could simply pray and get a note in our mailbox: "The following is my will for you.... Love, God" But no, we must take the time to listen. Open the scriptures and ponder, meditate and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal God's will. And then listen - man that can be so hard, especially in this busy, bustling time! |