3rd Advent Gospel reflection

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Advent, Bible, blessing, Christianity, Church, discipleship, Early Church, Faith, Father Troy Beecham, God, God is with us, healing, Holy Spirit, Incarnation, Jesus, Peace, prayer, resurrection, saints, Salvation, Second Temple Judaism, son of God, truth

John the Baptist, Jesus’ own cousin, was in prison for preaching the truth. He had baptized Jesus, had seen the Holy Spirit descend on him like a dove, and had heard the voice of God say “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

John had seen it, and heard it, yet in his despair he began to question it. Why was he in prison if the Son of God had come? Why were the Romans still in charge? Why was Herod still on the throne? Why was there still evil? He sent some disciplescto ask, “Are you the One, or are we to wait for another?”

He had seen! He had heard! And his suffering caused him to doubt. How like John we all are.

How did Jesus reply? “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

We all want the healing to happen to us, the cleansing, the raising. And we want it to happen now!But just because it isn’t happening to us right this moment does not mean it isn’t happening.

God is working out his design at his own pace. He will bring his kingdom, the new heaven and new earth, in the fullness of his time. And while we wait, often in the midst of sorrow, shadow, death, and oppression, we must turn in faith back to the One who experienced the worst that we could do to him, and who loved us from the cross, to find hope and endurance in trust that his resurrection will also be ours someday.

May that day come quickly! In this Advent season of hopeful waiting, we cry out maranatha!, Lord, come quickly!