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The disciples of John the Baptist propose a very simple and profound question to Jesus: Are you the one who is to come, or should we
look for another? It is easy for us who have two-thousand years of Church
history with its preaching and teaching to say: of course, yes, he’s the one; he is the long-awaited Messiah; he is the great
reconciler and redeemer of mankind. But then again, since so much time has
passed since the arrival of that Messiah, reconciler and friend it seems also
easy for many to forget the depth of
significance of that coming, to forget that Jesus came to change our lives
entirely, that he came to be the Way, the Truth and the Life: the only way,
truth and life that leads to anywhere of import.
It
seems that many compartmentalize Jesus and look to him for certain
things only, like a kind of Santa Claus to whom they can make lists of wishes,
but look to others and other things: look to government, politics, education,
jobs, and self-made projects - for more practical results.
Until
we look for Jesus for everything, then we are not really seeing him at
all clearly, seeing him in his power, in his glory, in
his grace, in his mercy, in his providential care. It is only he ultimately who can make the blind (both physically and
spiritually) regain their sight, the lame
walk, the lepers be cleansed, the deaf hear and the poor have the good news
proclaimed to them.
This is what Jesus told the
disciples of the Baptist: go and tell
John what you see and hear: JESUS,
THE MESSIAH IS HERE FOR YOU AND YOUR SALVATION: ALL OF IT!
There
is a deep longing in the hearts of men and women and children for
healing and strength and wholeness and forgiveness for wrongs done. These same
people know that this salvation cannot be produced or manufactured or
legislated by human will; it can only be a gift freely received by God who
freely gives it to those simply ask for it: and that can be everyone!
God
wants all to experience joy and
gladness; God wants sorrow and
mourning to flee; thanks be to this God and Father, Son and Brother, Spirit
Giver of Life and all good things.
Amen.
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