Isaiah 35:1-10 , Matthew 11:2-11
In our daily lives, we often experience many doubts. Starting from simple things such as a vacation agenda with family, to things that are more principle & essential. Doubts even enter the realm of our faith and spirituality. Questions about God's goodness in the midst of suffering in the world, to His existence in the universe. Many people condemn such doubts, but interestingly in various texts in the Bible, it has a place in the process of one's faith. It is not denied but recognized so that the journey of seeking the essence of faith in God continues.
John the Baptist is portrayed as charismatic and steadfast. He preached repentance to the people at that time as a way to prepare them for the coming of the promised Son of God. His belief in the Messiah, for whom he was preparing to come, was great. He told the crowd, "I am not even worthy to open his shoes." However, in the end John the Baptist was just an ordinary man. He felt doubts when he saw what Jesus was doing. Jesus appeared to be different from the image of the Messiah he had in his mind. For John the Baptist, a Messiah would come in his strictness. Judging the guilty and proclaiming justice. But what he saw was a very different Messiah. He greeted the poor and marginalized. Those who were labeled sinners and shunned by their neighbors were embraced and invited to return to the right path.
The Messiah's teachings were gentle and loving.
The reality he encountered had to be met with the harsh reality that John the Baptist was in prison. It seemed that the whole turmoil of his life led to the conclusion of many questions related to the life mission he had been living. Was it true that he had been holding on to the wrong beliefs? John the Baptist tried to test his beliefs by sending his disciples to ask Jesus himself, "Are you the one who is coming or should we wait for someone else?" Jesus answered John's disciples' questions by describing what he did, namely the blind saw, the lame walked, the skin disease was cleansed, the deaf heard, the dead were raised, and the poor were given good news. Everything he did was in accordance with what God prophesied through the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 35:1-10.
The Messiah is not only the one who comes to judge, but also the one who comes to preach good news and declare favor to those who are oppressed and suffering. The loving dimension of the Messiah is the Messiah who is to be revealed in Christ. John's disciples were affirmed at that moment, including the teacher, though not in this chapter. Interestingly, Jesus did not rebuke John but affirmed his position as the wayfinder. Blessed are those who follow John the Baptist, but more blessed are those who later recognize Jesus as the Messiah, the savior of mankind.
The 3rd Sunday of Advent is known as the week of gaudete or joy. It is a time when we are called to remember God's love that brings comfort and joy to our lives. The memory of the joy and comfort that God brings can dispel our doubts about God's work in the world. Maybe the struggles and problems that come with life make us doubt His work, but look around and reflect on past experiences, hasn't God always done good in our lives. No matter how small and simple it is. So wait faithfully for His coming and His work. God is always present and working.
Reflective questions :
Have we ever been faced with doubts about following Him?
