Trusting in God - Reflection for the Third Sunday of Advent

By Marianne Burkhard, OSB

Last Saturday we met John the Baptist as a young man, a fiery preacher in the desert. Legal scholars, theologians and soldiers came to the desert to listen to him. They took his challenge to change their ways seriously; and he convinced them that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mt 3:2)

Today’s Gospel shows him imprisoned and full of doubts. When he hears of the “works of the Messiah” (Mt. 11:2), he sends his disciples to Jesus: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” (Mt 11:3) In his youth John recognized the Messiah in the human form of Jesus “Behold, the Lamb of God …” (Jn 1:30). But now he is also mentally imprisoned – by his beliefs that Jesus is someone “who is mightier than I” coming with a “winnowing fan and unquenchable fire” (Mt. 3:11-12). 

In such a situation of doubts John the Baptist is close to us – how often are we fearful? How often do doubts fill us with questions about God’s power, about the ‘nearness’ of God’s reign and the presence of Jesus now? Naturally it is easy to get weighed down and saddened by minor irritations, loss of strength as one ages, or world events of war and economic woes. Can we put our hearts and faith into Isaiah’s call “be strong, fear not” and still perceive “the glory and splendor of a God” who can strengthen us in unusual ways? (Is 35: 4a, 2c, 3). 

Jesus answers John’s question with a simple reminder of what John and others “see and hear –the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed … and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” (Mt. 11: 4-5) Jesus adds: “blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” (Mt 11: 6) This last statement in the form of a beatitude holds a clear criticism: “Don’t be offended or scandalized by what I am doing, rather trust in me.” Like John we are called to expand our minds and hearts for the kind of “work” Jesus does: Instead of bringing a revolution of power Jesus changes hearts and situations one person at a time. His “kingdom of God” is not a political or social revolution, but offers the possibilities that, on any day, the poor are given bread, a blind woman can see the splendor of God, an unjust judge pronounces justice, and the beauty of our natural environment is lovingly tended. 

Although Jesus acknowledges that John the Baptist is greater than any other human prophet, he adds “the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Mt. 11:11) No, we don’t look for another Messiah, we believe that the kingdom of God is “at hand.” So let us trust. As the responsorial psalm affirms, “God keeps faith forever” (Ps 146:6b) – even in our human weakness.   

Let us seek the hidden glory of God in our everyday realities – in daily prayer, in the celebration of Christmas, in looking daily for new ways to live our Christian calling, to share love and peace and joy in our world.  Let us see, as John and Jesus’ disciples did, the good works of Jesus all around us.