Advent 3 – Gaudete Sunday
Some of my favorite characters in television and books are the failed, flawed and jaded detectives whose careers have stalled or imploded but who continue to pursue justice and solve crimes albeit in somewhat unorthodox ways. Characters like Chief Inspector Armand Gamache in the Louise Penny books or Jackson Lamb in Slow Horses. You understand that they were once young, idealistic and fervent in solving the mysteries and winning cases. But in their later years they are more nuanced, recognizing the complexity of life and their own limitations. I guess they have become both more mature and more disillusioned. Their own expectations haven’t been met, including their expectations for themselves.
They remind me of John the Baptist in prison, knowing that he is near the end of his life. John has been jailed for protesting the government, for speaking truth to power, for being active and adamant in his call for repentance for everyone, particularly for the ones who hold sway in religion and politics. He has risked everything and now he will lose his voice and his life.
John is the main character in the drama of Advent. His birth is a sign that the Messiah is near. His prophetic proclamation of the truth brings a religious revival as people perceive that a prophet has emerged after long years of silence. He is the one crying in the wilderness.
He has called everyone to straighten out, to pay attention, to watch and wait for the coming of the Messiah. He leaps in the womb when his mother is near to a pregnant Mary. He recognizes Jesus as Lord at the Jordan and baptizes him in the river. He keeps pointing to Jesus even as his own disciples begin to switch their allegiance from him to Jesus.
He has been faithful, committed, and effective. And, it has landed him on death row. Even the strongest and the most committed of us has doubts. John starts to wobble. He sends his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” This question breaks my heart. After all he has done and risked letting people know that Jesus is the Messiah, he is uncertain. Has he wasted his life? Has he led others astray? Was he wrong?
It’s possible that his doubts came from the way Jesus conducted his mission. Instead of protests and fiery condemnation of the powers that be, Jesus was hanging around the least, the last and the lost. He tended to the sick and disabled along the road, he ate with those society rejected, he healed women and children, particularly those who were poor and weak. He walked away from large crowds and asked people not to talk about him or spread his reputation.
His style of ministry was radically different from John’s and it didn’t seem as if Jesus would be effective in overthrowing the Roman government, creating a Jewish state with himself as the head or uprooting corrupt religious leaders. Jesus was proclaiming the Kingdom of God, but the worldly kingdoms still seemed to have all the wealth, power and influence. John was no longer sure that Jesus could save himself, let alone the rest of the world.
Like me, you’ve probably heard from people who were once fervent in their beliefs and convictions but have lost their faith. Starting with my generation, there has been a mass exodus from communal, religious belief and participation. It is more common for me to hear stories of those who have walked away from church and God than to hear accounts of conversions.
There is a weariness too in those who have worked and fought for political change and for peace and justice. People are turning off their news feeds, exhausted by the disappointments and disheartened by the nasty tone of public discourse. Many no longer expect a political savior, one who can change the tide, right the ship and steer us on a good course.
His style of ministry was radically different from John’s and it didn’t seem as if Jesus would be effective in overthrowing the Roman government, creating a Jewish state with himself as the head or uprooting corrupt religious leaders. Jesus was proclaiming the Kingdom of God, but the worldly kingdoms still seemed to have all the wealth, power and influence. John was no longer sure that Jesus could save himself, let alone the rest of the world.
Like me, you’ve probably heard from people who were once fervent in their beliefs and convictions but have lost their faith. Starting with my generation, there has been a mass exodus from communal, religious belief and participation. It is more common for me to hear stories of those who have walked away from church and God than to hear accounts of conversions.
There is a weariness too in those who have worked and fought for political change and for peace and justice. People are turning off their news feeds, exhausted by the disappointments and disheartened by the nasty tone of public discourse. Many no longer expect a political savior, one who can change the tide, right the ship and steer us on a good course.