”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 at me.”
When his Good News Finds the Darkest Part of Us
What is the scenario here in Matthew’s Gospel, where Jesus would feel it was necessary to describe these miracles and wonders to the messenger sent from John the Baptist? If we understand it more fully, it might touch our hearts with empathy for both John and for Jesus as they are at a pivotal moment in their relationship as cousins, and perhaps mentor and mentee. A defining moment.
The Scriptures obviously suggest that John the Baptist and Jesus were cousins on Mary’s side of the family, born several months apart. It is likely that they were close growing up, and yet, there is also historical speculation that John the Baptist might have been a prominent figure among the Essenes, an ascetic, mystical Jewish sect that lived with strict moral and social discipline in anticipation of the Apocalypse. While there is no biblical evidence for this, the speculation also suggests that Jesus may have been a sort of protégée of John as he grew and came of age, so that John expected Jesus to continue in his footsteps as a Messianic prophet, and that he might be the one to fulfill the hopes of that community to bring about a new age through a dramatic purification of the people. As we know, John’s vision for that purification was a rather threatening one, of Divine judgment and of fire.
But when he hears of Jesus’ ministry, and he does not perceive that Jesus is being faithful to that vision, John begins to lose faith that his cousin may be the one to liberate Israel from its moral decline. When John is imprisoned by Herod, he’s in an especially low state, and may despair that his ministry has been in vain, so he sends his followers to check in on Jesus and see what’s going on. Has he been wrong to put his hope and confidence in his younger cousin?
Yet, Jesus is his own person, and faithful to his Father, just as John the Baptist was faithful. Jesus’ experience of his Father’s love was different from John’s though, and rather than filling him with fear and dread, it inspired him with compassion, hope, and a spirit of forgiveness. Instead of condemnation, he provided healing. Instead of obsession with purity: he literally and figuratively reached out to sinners. Instead of threats, he made promises of invitation to a heavenly banquet hosted by a loving Father, who desired to include everyone. Yes, there were at times echoes of John’s judgments, but generally, Jesus’ portrayal of his loving and faithful Father had an uplifting and attractive tone.
So, we can understand why John might have doubted. And perhaps we can understand how, through the whole history of Christianity, there has always been a tension between those who lean in John’s direction, emphasizing the fallen state of humanity, the fear of God’s judgment, and the importance of purity, and those who lean in Jesus’ direction, emphasizing mercy, tolerance, and inclusive love.
Theologically, the Catholic Church holds and teaches that both of these orientations are true, and so, the tension will always exist. Leaning too far in either direction has historically landed us in various forms of heresy. However, today’s Gospel of Matthew reminds that in Jesus’ view, the proclamation of the Kingdom is “good news” and a reason for joy, not dread. This means that no matter how fallen we perceive humanity, no matter how chaotic our times, we as Christians are inspired to orient toward a hopeful vision of God’s desires for us. This means that God does not will our suffering or trials per se, but accompanies us lovingly through them toward a more abundant life. God desires and wills our flourishing as his children, and the flourishing of all Creation.
As leaders inspired by Jesus’ teaching and example, we too have a vocational call to transmit this hope, this bias for joy, compassion, and mercy. Yes, we have to be real and acknowledge the imperfection of our human condition, and the often sorry state of our human affairs. But when we give in to desolation and lose sight of the wonders that God is working every day, we risk losing something more… the grace of the hope given to us by Jesus’ Good News.
As we step in the third week of Advent, do we find our tanks running low and the need to reconnect more closely with the joy and hope of God’s promise? Let’s lean into Jesus’ Good News, and find that when we look, we see and hear the evidence of his love in our direct experience, our relationships, ministries, and works. There is reason for the joy God desires for us… and transmitting our hope energizes and inspires those around us to also look and see how the Holy Spirit is laboring amongst us even now, working wonders.
With prayers on the journey,
