Advent
Matthew 11:2–15
2Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" 4And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6And blessed is the one who is not offended by me."
The biblical narrative about Israel wandering in the wilderness for 40 years while an entire generation fell dead one-by-one and was buried in the dry, barren land of thorns and scorpions, is not really so much about Israel as it is about us. It is not Israel's wilderness that causes us to suffer and lose faith, it is ours! It is no great concern of ours that Israel complained, lost faith, rebelled against Moses and Aaron because of the hardship they endured, because of the hunger and thirst, the seeming unending walking and wandering that never to lead to anywhere except more thirst and weariness. But what is our great concern is the hopeless wandering of our lives, without any seeming purpose. We toil and labor, suffer afflictions and loss, become ill and weak, and the only end in sight is to fall dead one day, and go to the grave empty handed. No wonder! Our hopes fail, our dreams never come true, and, like the Israelites, we lose faith, grumble, complain, shake our fists defiantly in God's face, and then roll over and die. "Vanity of vanity, all is vanity," said the preacher.
We live in a wilderness of sin, difficulties, sorrow and grief where "the hawk and the porcupine possess and the owl and the raven dwell. Where God has stretched the line of confusion. Where thorns grow over its strongholds, nettles and thistles in its fortresses. It is a haunt of jackals and an abode for ostriches." (Isaiah 34). And in this wilderness we often cry out to God in desperation; we lose faith and wonder if God ever listens to us, or if he is even there at all. Our lives seem hopeless and empty; we are filled with addictions and sinful thoughts; our sufferings mount and there is no end in sight. Like the Israelites we too defy God and rebel because of the burdens we bear.
Perhaps John the Baptist felt the same way, sitting in the cold, dark dungeon of Herod, wishing God had never called him to be a prophet. What was it all for? Was it all just a waste? He spent a lifetime preaching and baptizing, but never saw any results. His congregation just dried up and left him, and according to the polls his approval rating had gone into a tail spin. Was it all just one, big cosmic mistake?
John not only lived and preached in the wilderness, his life had become a wilderness, just like ours at times. He sent messengers to ask Jesus, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?"
But there was an ancient prophecy: "The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus, it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing." Now, I don't know much about flowers. I couldn't you tell the difference between a crocus and a petunia; what I do know is that this is something good. Something to be desired, because I shall see the "glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God."
Therefore, "may the weak hands be strong and the feeble knees firm. Say to those who are anxious of heart, 'Be strong, fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you. Then, the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame man shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute shall sing for joy." Instead of wandering around in circles for 40 years on the rough, hot sands of the desert, there shall be a highway called "the Way of Holiness" and the burning sand shall become a pool; the thirsty ground, springs of water, and the grass shall become reeds and rushes. That was the prophecy.
So Jesus answered John, "Look around and tell me what you see. 'The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up and the poor have good news preached to them'. Today the prophecy is being fulfilled. Today your wilderness will be changed into a garden of blooming flowers, or cool waters. Your way will be made straight." There shall be Gladness, singing, joy!
When Jesus was going from village to village, healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, opening the eyes of the blind, loosening the tongues of the mute and raising the dead, there was an air of excitement. The news of Jesus spread rapidly and everywhere people were running to see Jesus perform miracles and hear him preach. It was a time of joy and celebration for the entire nation. Probably somewhat like when the defeat of Hitler was announced, or the surrender of Japan in the Second World War. Everyone was excited and celebrating. The newspapers ran extra large headlines, and people were shouting the news in the streets. That's how it was when the blind saw, the lame leapt for joy and the dead were raised. It was good news all around for the poor people wandering lost in the wilderness.
Today is Gaudate Sunday; joy and rejoicing! Today we light the pink candle on the wreath, a lighter color than the others, because today's message is one of joy. The kingdom of heaven has come; Jesus is here! Our salvation has drawn near. Our lamenting in the wilderness, our discouragement, our drudgery, our meaningless toil and trouble are about to come to an end. Instead of ending our life in the cold, dark grave, you are about to see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of your God. Your weak hands are about to be made strong, and your feeble knees firm. Your God is coming with vengeance. He will save you and you shall leap like a deer and your tongue will sing for joy. The burning sand is made pools of living water in Baptism, and your hunger and thirst shall be satisfied with the body and blood of Jesus. Jesus is the Highway of Holiness through the desert that leads you to God.
For Jesus was born of a virgin. God became man, and joined to Jesus in Baptism you are joined to God. God and man have become one. God dwells in you and you in God, and there you shall have that rest and peace of which the angels sing. For at Jesus' birth, God took not only your flesh and bone, but your sin, and he bore it on his own shoulders and crucified it on the cross. He took the discouragement of your journey in the wilderness and the fear of your uncertainties. He cries out to you who wander and labor in the wilderness, tired and weary from the endless journey of hardship and suffering: "Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden light."
There, with arms outstretched on the cross reaching up to heaven, he paid for your sins and sank down into the earth to be swallowed up by the grave so he could hallow it for you. He rested in the grave three days so you can rest for eternity in heaven. He rose from the dead and left it empty so to raise you on the last day and redeem your body from the decay of death with a new, incorruptible, imperishable body.
There, in that Babe lying in a manger, is the highway that leads us out of this stinking wilderness and into the eternal goodness of God; joining us to the Trinity so that we share in his life, in his love, in his joy, in his peace and rest that will never end. Though still in the midst of the wilderness, you shall blossom like a flower, whether a crocus or petunia; like the bright, desert flower you shall bloom with glory and splendor because you are in Christ and Christ is in God. Man and God are joined by Baptism, and the beloved child of the Father shall never be left alone or abandoned.
Lift up your hearts and sing to the Lord; make a joyful noise to the rock of your salvation! (Psalm 95). Set your eyes on the heavens for the Lord is coming in the clouds. He is a great God, and a great king above all gods.
Amen.
Now may the peace and joy of the Lord keep your hearts and minds ever in Christ Jesus, Amen.