God Saves the Poor     

December 9, Thursday

SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT

                          

It is heartening to hear these days a strong and repeated message of encouragement. This is what we believe in if we trust in the nearness of God in his Son Jesus Christ. When people are poor and afflicted, God is near as their Savior, that is, one who is bound to them with close bonds and who is bound to come to their assistance. The poor are those who trust in him. He promises them a new paradise. Even the least in his kingdom are greater than the greatest and last of the prophets, John the Baptist.

 

First Reading: Isaiah 41:13-20

“Count on it: Everyone who had it in for you
    will end up out in the cold—
    real losers.
Those who worked against you
    will end up empty-handed—
    nothing to show for their lives.
When you go out looking for your old adversaries
    you won’t find them—
Not a trace of your old enemies,
    not even a memory.
That’s right. Because I, your God,
    have a firm grip on you and I’m not letting go.
I’m telling you, ‘Don’t panic.
    I’m right here to help you.’

 “Do you feel like a lowly worm, Jacob?
    Don’t be afraid.
Feel like a fragile insect, Israel?
    I’ll help you.
I, God, want to reassure you.
    The God who buys you back, The Holy of Israel.
I’m transforming you from worm to harrow,
    from insect to iron.
As a sharp-toothed harrow you’ll smooth out the mountains,
    turn those tough old hills into loamy soil.
You’ll open the rough ground to the weather,
    to the blasts of sun and wind and rain.
But you’ll be confident and exuberant,
    expansive in The Holy of Israel!

 “The poor and homeless are desperate for water,
    their tongues parched and no water to be found.
But I’m there to be found, I’m there for them,
    and I, God of Israel, will not leave them thirsty.
I’ll open up rivers for them on the barren hills,
    spout fountains in the valleys.
I’ll turn the baked-clay badlands into a cool pond,
    the waterless waste into splashing creeks.
I’ll plant the red cedar in that treeless wasteland,
    also acacia, myrtle, and olive.
I’ll place the cypress in the desert,
    with plenty of oaks and pines.
Everyone will see this. No one can miss it—
    unavoidable, indisputable evidence
That I, God, personally did this.
    It’s created and signed by The Holy of Israel.

 

Gospel: Matthew 11:11-15

“Let me tell you what’s going on here: No one in history surpasses John the Baptizer; but in the kingdom he prepared you for, the lowliest person is ahead of him. For a long time now people have tried to force themselves into God’s kingdom. But if you read the books of the Prophets and God’s Law closely, you will see them culminate in John, teaming up with him in preparing the way for the Messiah of the kingdom. Looked at in this way, John is the ‘Elijah’ you’ve all been expecting to arrive and introduce the Messiah.

 “Are you listening to me? Really listening?

 

Prayer

Lord our God,
you do not abandon those who rely on you.
Take us by the hand when we are afraid,
help us when we call out to you,
for we experience that we are powerless
to establish your kingdom of justice and love.
Send your Son again among us today
to be our Lord and Savior
now and for ever. Amen.

 

Reflection:

We are more privileged than John the Baptist!

There are some strange words in the gospel today: “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force.” The meaning seems to refer to those who are using violence to prevent people from entering the Kingdom and pulling away those who have already entered. In the context of Matthew’s Gospel, this could apply to those Jews and others who were bitterly opposed to Jesus and his message. And it is still happening today, sometimes with violence & persecution and sometimes in much more subtle ways.

John the Baptist is truly an Advent figure.  Jesus pays him tremendous tribute and says:  There has been nobody greater than he.  But this praise is followed by the startling phrase: “The least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” What can this mean? 

William Barclay gives a beautiful answer.  He says that something was lacking in John.  He had never seen Christ on the Cross. The deepest expression of God’s love was missed by John.  And so, Jesus says, even the very least in the Kingdom of God, inaugurated by Jesus, is in a more privileged position than John. John was not able to share in the abundance of life that was released through the death and resurrection of Jesus as every believing Christian can do. John died ahead of Jesus The Christians came after the death and resurrection of Jesus.  We are indeed great.  We reap the unmerited fruits of Christ’s sacrifice. 

We are blessed but not necessarily better than John.  Our blessedness will be in vain, if we will not be moved to renewal of life and to love God alone in Jesus.  John heroically fulfilled his role to prepare the people for Jesus’ Coming and pointed out Jesus when He came.  Ours is the call to follow Jesus’ way and to give witness to his love to all people

We might conclude by reflecting that the role of John the Baptist is one that each follower of Christ is called to fill. It is up to us to prepare the way for Christ and his vision of the Kingdom to enter the lives of people. In the words of the Benedictus, a hymn said every day in the Church’s Morning Prayer: -As for you, little child, -You shall be called a prophet of God the Most High. -You shall go ahead of the Lord-To prepare his ways before him. (Luke 1:76)

 

Video available on Youtube :We are more privileged than John the Baptist!