In Matthew’s Gospel today we find John the Baptist in prison - and while there we’re told that he sends his followers to Jesus with what appears to be a simple question - are you the one? Now, out of all the people on the face of the earth, there were probably only two, at that moment in time, who really knew the answer to that question - Jesus of course, was one of them, and the other was His Mother.
But you might of thought that John the Baptist would have also known the answer to that question, wasn’t it the Baptist who spoke these words when he saw Jesus coming towards him to be baptized: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” There doesn’t seem to be any doubt whatsoever in that statement or in the Baptists mind at that moment that Jesus was the one.
And didn’t John testify further saying “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain with him”- so why now - now that he finds himself in prison - does John send his followers to Jesus with such a question - are you the one?
There is a hint of desperation in that question - are you the one - desperation that I think each of us can relate to. John knows that he is in a bad situation - he’s not getting out of prison and its only a matter of time before Herod has him executed. He is desperate and perhaps even beginning to doubt that Jesus is the one - and if Jesus isn’t the one - then who is - and what does all that mean - what purpose then has John’s life served?
Part of John’s doubt certainly springs forth from the situation he finds himself in - he is in prison and facing death - and why - only because he spoke the truth. If God exists, if Jesus was the one - the Messiah - then WHY would they allow this to happen to him? What possible purpose could it all serve?
Perhaps it was also John’s concept of what the Messiah would be or in his opinion should be that caused him to doubt and question whether Jesus was the one. John was probably looking for the conquering king, the warrior who would charge in with his armies and free Israel from their captivity by force.
That wasn’t Jesus. Jesus road into Jerusalem - to face the religious establishment and the Roman authorities - on a borrowed donkey - and the people who followed Him weren’t very rich or powerful or well educated let alone much of an army.
Jesus wasn’t at all interested in power, authority, or fighting - in fact Jesus preached that we should love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. If Jesus was the one - the Messiah, then how did he hope to free Israel from their captivity with this Gospel of love?
What the Baptist didn’t understand then and what we still don’t understand today is what real power is and what captivity means. Jesus came not to free us from Roman occupation or communism or even prison - Jesus came to free us from the captivity of sin - and He did that on the cross - the only weapon or power that can defeat sin - in all it’s ugly manifestations - is love - and we know that there is no greater love than to give one’s life for another.
Physical strength, large armies, aircraft and ships aren't real power because we know that it is in our weaknesses - in carrying our daily crosses - that our faith which is real power - is tested and made stronger. Nations and armies have fallen over the centuries - there is only one kingdom that has stood the test of time - Christ - who still reigns yesterday, today and forever from His cross.
How many of us - good people here today - when we find ourselves in desperate situations like the Baptist found himself, begin to doubt and question if Jesus is the one? We begin to doubt if God does exist and question why if He does exist He would allow such bad things happen to such good people - and in our questioning we begin to loose our faith and fall away from our religious practices.
How many of us today don’t realize that the battle for our freedom - for our salvation is not something fought on some field, it is not something that can be negotiated between countries or governments, it is not something that can be purchased for some dollar amount, or enacted into law, it is not something that can be determined by majority rule or popular opinion - the battle for our freedom for our salvation has already been fought and won - Jesus defeated the captivity of sin on the cross.
Each of us though, to claim that victory - to enter into the splendor of His kingdom, and enjoy the freedom it offers - must choose to follow in His footsteps - we must choose to love like He did - and although we may not understand the way Jesus chose to win for each of us the possibility of everlasting life - by dying on the cross - Jesus tells John the Baptist and each of us today in our Gospel that - blessed is the one who takes no offense in Him. We shouldn’t take offense in Jesus because of the way He chose to usher in God’s kingdom the way He did.
Jesus asked the people in our Gospel today - what did you go into the desert to see - a reed swayed by the wind? Because if that is what you went to see - then you wasted your time - the truth is the truth - it’s not a word it is a person - it’s Jesus Christ - it is unchangeable - it is the same yesterday, today and forever - and those who would dare preach it - like John the Baptist did - cannot allow popular opinion or social pressure to sway them like the wind sways a reed, they can’t allow the possibility of complaints, the threat of punishment, or the fear of death keep them from preaching the truth - John the Baptist didn’t - he preached the truth and was murdered for it.
Jesus testified to the truth and He was crucified for it. Each of us - as followers of Christ - are called to witness and proclaim the truth - knowing that we too may face opposition, insults and persecutions.
So I ask you today what did you come to Church to hear - the priest say that sin doesn’t exist, that Hell isn’t real or that this or that sin really doesn’t matter any more - or did you come to Church to hear the truth preached whether it is popular or not - and whether it hurts or not.
I think there are many here today that want to hear the truth - that need to hear the truth - that is what John the Baptist found - he never worked any miracles - all he did was preach the truth and the people flocked to him in the thousands. And how did that happen - there wasn’t any mass communication - no television, no radio, no internet - but the people - in the thousands - came to hear him talk. It was done by word of mouth - it is called evangelization - those that heard the truth preached went out and told others - who told others - and they flocked to John the Baptist.
We have to ask ourselves - why this parish - isn’t growing - if the truth is being preached here then the word isn’t getting out - we - each of us - aren’t out there evangelizing - sharing the good news of Christ with others. Each of us have to ask ourselves why is it we aren’t talking about Christ to our friends, families and especially strangers. Why is it that this Church isn’t packed full of people thirsty for the truth?
As we prepare ourselves to receive Jesus today - truly present body blood soul and divinity - in the Eucharist, let us rejoice in His love, mercy and compassion; let us ask ourselves which of the truths of our religion challenge us personally and prevent us from going out today and sharing Christ with others - do we truly believe in God, do we believe Jesus is the one, do we still believe in the Holy Spirit and the Holy Catholic Church, Apostolic succession, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting - or are those just words we mechanically say each mass?
As we prepare ourselves today to receive Jesus who died on the cross for our sins we should rejoice in our Savior - but let us ask ourselves which sins continue to hold us in captivity and why it is we don’t claim Christ’s victory over those sins for ourselves so we can go out into the world and proclaim the good news. And, after receiving Jesus today, let us reflect on how well we carry Him out into the world and share His love for us with others.
But you might of thought that John the Baptist would have also known the answer to that question, wasn’t it the Baptist who spoke these words when he saw Jesus coming towards him to be baptized: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” There doesn’t seem to be any doubt whatsoever in that statement or in the Baptists mind at that moment that Jesus was the one.
And didn’t John testify further saying “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain with him”- so why now - now that he finds himself in prison - does John send his followers to Jesus with such a question - are you the one?
There is a hint of desperation in that question - are you the one - desperation that I think each of us can relate to. John knows that he is in a bad situation - he’s not getting out of prison and its only a matter of time before Herod has him executed. He is desperate and perhaps even beginning to doubt that Jesus is the one - and if Jesus isn’t the one - then who is - and what does all that mean - what purpose then has John’s life served?
Part of John’s doubt certainly springs forth from the situation he finds himself in - he is in prison and facing death - and why - only because he spoke the truth. If God exists, if Jesus was the one - the Messiah - then WHY would they allow this to happen to him? What possible purpose could it all serve?
Perhaps it was also John’s concept of what the Messiah would be or in his opinion should be that caused him to doubt and question whether Jesus was the one. John was probably looking for the conquering king, the warrior who would charge in with his armies and free Israel from their captivity by force.
That wasn’t Jesus. Jesus road into Jerusalem - to face the religious establishment and the Roman authorities - on a borrowed donkey - and the people who followed Him weren’t very rich or powerful or well educated let alone much of an army.
Jesus wasn’t at all interested in power, authority, or fighting - in fact Jesus preached that we should love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. If Jesus was the one - the Messiah, then how did he hope to free Israel from their captivity with this Gospel of love?
What the Baptist didn’t understand then and what we still don’t understand today is what real power is and what captivity means. Jesus came not to free us from Roman occupation or communism or even prison - Jesus came to free us from the captivity of sin - and He did that on the cross - the only weapon or power that can defeat sin - in all it’s ugly manifestations - is love - and we know that there is no greater love than to give one’s life for another.
Physical strength, large armies, aircraft and ships aren't real power because we know that it is in our weaknesses - in carrying our daily crosses - that our faith which is real power - is tested and made stronger. Nations and armies have fallen over the centuries - there is only one kingdom that has stood the test of time - Christ - who still reigns yesterday, today and forever from His cross.
How many of us - good people here today - when we find ourselves in desperate situations like the Baptist found himself, begin to doubt and question if Jesus is the one? We begin to doubt if God does exist and question why if He does exist He would allow such bad things happen to such good people - and in our questioning we begin to loose our faith and fall away from our religious practices.
How many of us today don’t realize that the battle for our freedom - for our salvation is not something fought on some field, it is not something that can be negotiated between countries or governments, it is not something that can be purchased for some dollar amount, or enacted into law, it is not something that can be determined by majority rule or popular opinion - the battle for our freedom for our salvation has already been fought and won - Jesus defeated the captivity of sin on the cross.
Each of us though, to claim that victory - to enter into the splendor of His kingdom, and enjoy the freedom it offers - must choose to follow in His footsteps - we must choose to love like He did - and although we may not understand the way Jesus chose to win for each of us the possibility of everlasting life - by dying on the cross - Jesus tells John the Baptist and each of us today in our Gospel that - blessed is the one who takes no offense in Him. We shouldn’t take offense in Jesus because of the way He chose to usher in God’s kingdom the way He did.
Jesus asked the people in our Gospel today - what did you go into the desert to see - a reed swayed by the wind? Because if that is what you went to see - then you wasted your time - the truth is the truth - it’s not a word it is a person - it’s Jesus Christ - it is unchangeable - it is the same yesterday, today and forever - and those who would dare preach it - like John the Baptist did - cannot allow popular opinion or social pressure to sway them like the wind sways a reed, they can’t allow the possibility of complaints, the threat of punishment, or the fear of death keep them from preaching the truth - John the Baptist didn’t - he preached the truth and was murdered for it.
Jesus testified to the truth and He was crucified for it. Each of us - as followers of Christ - are called to witness and proclaim the truth - knowing that we too may face opposition, insults and persecutions.
So I ask you today what did you come to Church to hear - the priest say that sin doesn’t exist, that Hell isn’t real or that this or that sin really doesn’t matter any more - or did you come to Church to hear the truth preached whether it is popular or not - and whether it hurts or not.
I think there are many here today that want to hear the truth - that need to hear the truth - that is what John the Baptist found - he never worked any miracles - all he did was preach the truth and the people flocked to him in the thousands. And how did that happen - there wasn’t any mass communication - no television, no radio, no internet - but the people - in the thousands - came to hear him talk. It was done by word of mouth - it is called evangelization - those that heard the truth preached went out and told others - who told others - and they flocked to John the Baptist.
We have to ask ourselves - why this parish - isn’t growing - if the truth is being preached here then the word isn’t getting out - we - each of us - aren’t out there evangelizing - sharing the good news of Christ with others. Each of us have to ask ourselves why is it we aren’t talking about Christ to our friends, families and especially strangers. Why is it that this Church isn’t packed full of people thirsty for the truth?
As we prepare ourselves to receive Jesus today - truly present body blood soul and divinity - in the Eucharist, let us rejoice in His love, mercy and compassion; let us ask ourselves which of the truths of our religion challenge us personally and prevent us from going out today and sharing Christ with others - do we truly believe in God, do we believe Jesus is the one, do we still believe in the Holy Spirit and the Holy Catholic Church, Apostolic succession, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting - or are those just words we mechanically say each mass?
As we prepare ourselves today to receive Jesus who died on the cross for our sins we should rejoice in our Savior - but let us ask ourselves which sins continue to hold us in captivity and why it is we don’t claim Christ’s victory over those sins for ourselves so we can go out into the world and proclaim the good news. And, after receiving Jesus today, let us reflect on how well we carry Him out into the world and share His love for us with others.
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