HOW CAN WE LOOK FOR ANOTHER? YOU ARE HE.

HOMILY FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR A

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

The woman said to him: I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things. Jesus said to her, I who speak to you am He (John 4:25).

All of us at one time or another has had one expectation or another from the Lord. Some of us have really felt great disappointments when our expectations are not met. Some have lost the love and friendship they had with some others due to series of disappointments. Some have also felt scandalized about the actions of people they hold at great esteem. Some have actually felt displeasure concerning the dispassionate attitudes many people they expected fine treatment from have shown them. These are the kinds of thought that may come into the mind of a Christian who encounters today’s Gospel message. Some Christians tend to interpret the question of John the Baptist as a question of an unbeliever or someone who is unsure of Christ. Some commentators have also backed this kind of idea with the response of Christ about John when he said that he is the least in the kingdom of heaven, advocating that it was a message that portrayed Christ disappointment with John. But I tell you, the passage was mainly about the Messiahship of Christ and not about John’s question. The goal of the question is to lead the reader to the discovery of the mission of Christ and thereupon to unequivocally believe that Jesus is the Messiah. This is the intention of the Matthew. Yes, Jesus is the Messiah.

In the Gospel Reading of today (Mtt.11:2-11), we encounter in the very first sentence this question from John though his disciples to Jesus: are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another? John was in the prison and already was a dying man. There would be nothing to make his happiness greater than confirming that the person he introduced as the Messiah (Mtt. 3:1-17) was at his best. The Messiahship of Jesus would render the most ample meaning to the forerunning of John. If Jesus were not to be the Messiah, then John’s forerunning would have been in vain. If Jesus were not to be the Messiah, then John’s imprisonment and death would be very frustrating to John Himself. John needed to confirm his mission; for in confirming his mission can he be more formidable and decisive with his message for repentance which actually sent him to jail. If Jesus had answered John that he was not the Messiah, John would have immediately rushed to Herod to plead for mercy, because nwa o biara iku anwuola (i.e, if the goal is shattered, the work is frustrated). Hey! Who really knew the happiness in John for such answer that was given by Jesus? Many times, we need the confirmation about the mission of others to render our own mission meaningful. We need the knowledge of others to acquire more solid and formidable knowledge. The questions that we ought to ask God and the Church must have the sole intention of an increment in faith and the solidification of our Christian lifestyle here on earth.

It is best to inquire about any person from the particular person about which the inquiry is made. To inquire about Jesus, go to Jesus. To inquire about Christianity, become a Christian. Asking another person can make or mar the intention for which you inquire. When someone offends you as a Christian, do not go around telling everyone you see. Learn to go to that particular person whose acts offended you and ask for an explanation. Yes, it is a really hard thing to do, but wise men do it. You run away from gossip, from rancour, from acrimony and from hatred. You will be clarified and will be far from frustration and disappointments. When you think the owner of your destiny (God) has disappointed, why not go to him; and not to places that may not provide you with the most credible answer? Yes, Jesus is the Messiah.

A trial will convince you. The question of John too, as some have argued may not be for the sake of John himself but for the sake of his disciples. It is very probable that when John and his disciples talked in the prison, the disciples questioned whether Jesus was really the Messiah. John’s answer could have been: if any of you has doubts, let him go and ask Jesus himself. This means that if anyone begins to argue with us about Jesus, and to question his kingship, the best of all answers is to say: give your life to Jesus, and see what he can do with it. The supreme argument for Christ is not intellectual debate but an experience of his changing power.

Jesus’ answer confirmed his mission. He outlines the liberating works of the Messiah as foretold by the prophets. There is liberation for those who are captives of one natural or physical ailment. God himself is the saviour. Indeed, this is the message of the First Reading of today from the oracle of Isaiah 35:1-6a.10. When the king comes, there must be liberation, testimonies, happiness, joy, thanksgiving, and their likes. Yes, Jesus is He who comes.

Action speaks louder than words. Jesus’ answer goes straight to his action and not his words. To be candid, the world today needs more doers of the Gospel message than preachers. Our actions confirm our Christianity, not merely our words. In this case, Jesus demands that he be judged by his deeds. Can you be judged by your deeds? Can you leave the comfort of your home and help the struggling brethren out there? It is in our sacrifices that we are edified.

Jesus spoke about John with a high sense of admiration. His questions portrayed John as an extra-ordinary man who was sought after for the rare gift he possessed, as a spiritual man who was neither materialistic nor moved by the things of this world, as a preacher of the word who was solely interested in the repentance of the people, as more than a prophet who showed the people the God-man. John was more than a prophet about whom other prophets spoke of (cf. Mal. 4:5, Behold, I will send you Elijah the Prophet, before the great and terrible day of the Lord.); and no man could have a greater task than this. John was a herald of God. He is indeed the greatest of all the prophets. Little wonder Jesus states that among those born of women, John was the greatest. But why is the least in the kingdom of heaven greater than John?

Jesus is the kingdom of God Himself. In him is the kingdom of heaven. He is the auto-basileia.to experience Christ is to experience the kingdom of heaven. To be with Christ is to be with the kingdom. To know Christ is to know the kingdom. To preach Christ is to preach the kingdom. This is exactly what Christians have that John never had. He pointed Jesus to the people as the Messiah but never did he experience and knew Christ very closely while on earth. He was like a sign post pointing towards the destination (Christ). Hence, it is logical that those who enter the destination have more knowledge and experience than the person who points to the destination. The signpost does its work so well. That is why it can be regarded as the best leader towards the destination. However, its destiny to be the signpost has rendered its experience of the destination insufficient, whereby the persons who enter come out with a greater knowledge. John sowed Jesus to the world, but could not experience his Messiahship and his redemptive acts on earth. The apostles and the Christians were privileged to experience Christ, and to see and hear what the prophets all dreamt to have but never had. In other words, Jesus may have been inadvertently saying: John could have prophesied about my coming and pointed me as the messiah, but there are those who will preach me to the whole world, make converts, live holy lives for my sake and die for me. These people are greater than John even though John is the greatest of the prophets before him.

We have all been giving this opportunity to be great in heaven and to proclaim the king who is coming. As a Christian, grab the opportunity now, and never be weighed down by troubles and tribulations. I thus conclude with the admonition of James to all Christians (James 5:7-11, the Second Reading): Be patient and wait until the Lord comes. Do not be worried by the uncertainties of this life. Do not grumble at your various disappointments in life. Be patient just like the farmer who waits until the crop is fully watered by the rains of heaven. Yes, He is coming. Jesus is the Messiah that comes. We shall not wait for another. I wish you a blessed week ahead. God bless you.