December 11, 2022

3rd Sunday of Advent (A)

The Baptist’s Strange Question

Msgr. Thomas Gervasio

In last week’s Gospel, John the Baptist was preaching repentance and warning the people to prepare for the coming wrath. Today’s Gospel fast forwards to the time when Our Lord is already about his public ministry. John is not preaching in the desert but languishing in prison. He sends his disciples to Jesus with a question: “Are you he who is to come, or should we look for another?”—a strange question since John pointed out Jesus, baptized him, witnessed the opening of the heavens, the descent of the Spirit and heard the voice of the Father! Many Church Fathers believed the Baptist posed the question on behalf of his inquiring disciples. In other words, “If you want to know, ask him yourselves!”

Some scholars see it differently. They suggest that the Baptist poses the question because he was discouraged and struggled to understand. Afterall, John had expected a military conqueror, a Messiah who would crush the wicked and destroy the oppressors. Jesus was not doing this sort of thing at all, overturning John’s expectations! Jesus’ ministry was one of meekness, humility, and healing. Instead of slaying the wicked, he endured their ridicule. Our Lord was fulfilling a set of Messianic texts in Scripture that John did not emphasize.

Jesus sends the following answer to John: “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.” Jesus did not want the Baptist to be scandalized by the way he was fulfilling his mission. John had to refine his understanding of how God was working out his plan of salvation.

This Gospel reminds us of the times we doubt and struggle with faith. St. Anselm reminds us that the Christian life is precisely about faith seeking understanding. Doubts can be my friend rather than my foe when they move me to examine and seek a more mature and deeper faith.
This Gospel also reveals the way God works in unexpected ways—the “God of surprises” if you will. Some surprises are happy others are not, at least at first. Even our best laid plans can be upended. It’s been said, “If you want to hear God laugh tell him your plans.” While we realize that God knows what is best for us and that he sees the whole picture, we still struggle with the unexpected.

We like predictability and the familiar. Sometimes we can only see God’s hand at work in hindsight. At Lourdes I saw a pilgrim’s note at Our Lady’s shrine: “Thank you for not answering my prayer”—not a very common prayer! Today’s Gospel prompts this prayer:

Gracious God, when I think of your surprises, I have mixed feelings, to be honest. Part of me rejoices that you have plans for me beyond anything I have imagined. Then there’s the other part of me that isn’t too keen on your surprises. It is the part that likes predictability and doesn’t like to be inconvenienced. Forgive me, Lord, when I let my fears get in the way. Forgive me when I overlook or reject your surprises. Give me an open heart, a trust that allows me to receive what you have for me even when I don’t expect it. All praise, glory, and honor to you, O God of grace, O God of surprises!