THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (A)

16 December 2007

Readings: Is 35:1-6a, 10; Ps 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10; Jas 5:7-10; Mt 11:2-11

The message from John the Baptist – Jesus as the Messiah

“Are you the one who is to come or should we look for another?” Jesus said to them in
reply, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame
walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good
news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense of me.”

As Advent’s reflective mood gets overshadowed by the holiday season’s activities, our
pages of history continues to be stained with the blood of crime, moral decadence, and
catastrophes in today’s society. I remember that particular controversy that captured the
Staten Island Advance headline of late regarding strip club sign on an abandoned building
on Hylan Boulevard in Grasmere which was posted without the proper permits, sparked
outrage on the part of neighbors, particularly those nuns from two nearby all-girl Catholic
high schools.1 In spite of this controversy the owner Moshe Chene has been hard to find.
His name comes up with a variety of Island addresses, many of which have been sold to
new owners.2 Then the case of Fire Marshal Douglas Mercereau who was murdered in
his home was another controversy. Initial examination said it was suicide. But law
enforcement experts said that it’s difficult to determine just how the bullet entered
Mercereau’s head since there was a heavily coagulated blood at the gruesome scene.3

The word ‘difficulty’ in these examples is like a battle over the storms and
tempests that long for truth, freedom and justice. Even in today’s gospel John and his
followers have difficulty to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. Their preconceived idea of
the Messiah and his role are conditioned by what they expect from someone who is going
to be a political revolutionary and who will liberate them from the Romans’ atrocities.
But that’s not the real essence or concept of Jesus’ messiah-ship. It is service to
humanity. This is what the gospel reminds us – Jesus is the Messiah! He is a humble
servant willing to show the way to the Father.4 This is what is going to be a scandal
(scandalon in the Greek). As he says: “Blessed are those who are not scandalized at me.”
His sublime purpose abounds with love and faithfulness.

1
cf. Karen O’Shea. Owner of site for strip club defied codes. Staten Island Advance. Thursday,
December 13, 2007. pp A1 & A10.
2
ibid. p A 10
3
Peter N. Spencer. A deadly riddle in fire marshal’s murder. Staten Island Advance. Thursday, December
13, 2007. pp A 1 & A 10.
4
cf. Gil Alinsangan, SSP. Editor. 366 Days with the Lord – Liturgical Biblical Diary 2004. St Paul’s
Publications, Philippines. ISSN 1655-5457.
 John the Baptist has now been in prison for a year. King Herod Antipas, 5 the
tetrarch of Galilee, has put him to prison because he rebukes his adulterous marriage with
his brother Philip’s wife (Mt 14:1-11). With this situation he feels that his time is coming
to an end. Which is why, he wants to be reassured that his life is not going to be for
nothing. Hence, he sends two of his disciples to Jesus to inquire whether he is the Christ,
the promised Messiah. He says: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for
another? He even doubts but later, he finds that he is really the Messiah.

Jesus tells the disciples of John the Baptist by pointing to his works: “Go and tell
John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are
cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed
to them.” This time, however, Jesus has just finished his instructions to his disciples, and
he now departs to preach in different cities. He sets the record straight about John the
Baptist. He honors him by saying that he is among the greatest prophets of the OT
prophets. He is the privileged one to announce the coming of the Messiah, the precursor,
forerunner,6 and messenger who would prepare the way of his coming.

People at that time clamored and fought for justice. They wanted to overthrow
the Roman government because of their cruelty and oppression to the Jews. Evils and
violence continued to afflict them. But they found it difficult to identify the promised
Messiah with servanthood. It was extremely contrary to what they were expecting
although he was already healing the sick, raising the dead, or preaching the kingdom of
God.

For us Christians, too, as we await and prepare ourselves for Christmas and the
celebration of his Incarnation, we may find it difficult to see his presence in our midst
especially if we are constantly afflicted with misfortunes or sorrows. Let us allow God to
reveal the truth to us according to his own time. He measures differently. He has his
own time. He has his own way. He has his own reason; a source of grounding and
inspiration that enables us to move on. God bless you.

5
John L. McKenzie, S.J. Dictionary of the Bible. The Bruce Publishing Company, New York. 1965. p
356. He is the Son of Herod the Great and Malthace, tetrarch of Galilee under the terms of Herod’s will.
Heord rebuilt and fortified the city of Sepphoris N of Nazareth and founded the city of Tiberias, named
after the emperor Tiberius, on the W shore of the Sea of Galilee. Herod was unwilling to execute him, but
the dance of the daughter of Herodias at his birthday dinner so enchanted the intoxicated ruler that he
promised her anything she desired. Salome at her mother’s prompting asked the head of John the Baptist
on a platter and his head was brought to the dining hall (Mt 14:3 ff; Mk 6:17 ff).
6
Jesus refers to Malachi 3:1. That Scripture predicted that a forerunner to Messiah would come. John
was that person.