“Are you He who is to come or do we look for another?” This is John the Baptist’s question, when he “heard about the works Christ performed.” As we wait with John to hear of and experience the saving works performed by Jesus in fulfillment of the prophecies of the Book of Isaiah, let us pray for the coming of the Lord’s justice in the words of the responsorial psalm:
Lord, come and save us.
It is he who keeps faith forever, who is just to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry, the Lord who sets prisoners free. (Ps 146:6 7)
The first reading is a lyrical prophecy of the Lord’s ransoming the Jewish exiles and bringing them home to Zion “singing and crowned with everlasting joy.” This return will be accompanied by a transformation of “the desert and the parched land” of Judah into a verdant paradise.
They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song....
They will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God. (Isa 35:1-2)
Prophetic voices in the community have the responsibility of preparing the discouraged exiles for God’s wondrous saving deeds. They are to:
Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened:
‘Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God, he comes with vindication’ .... (Isa 35:3?4)
When the exiles are prepared for the Lord’s action, they will be transformed into new life:
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared;
Then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the dumb will sing. (Isa 35:5-6)
The letter of James exhorts us who are awaiting “the coming of the Lord” to “be patient.” It presents two models of waiting: the hopeful patience of the farmer and the active preaching of the prophets. During the winter and spring rains, the farmer patiently awaits the precious yield of the soil. Likewise, James encourages Christians to “steady your hearts, because the coming of the Lord is at hand.” The prophets of old provide an example for those who are suffering for God’s kingdom while awaiting God’s judgment; they “spoke in the name of the Lord,” and, as a result, suffered “hardships.”
In the Gospel, John the Baptist is an example of such a prophet who suffered for preaching the coming of God’s kingdom. As we heard last week, he fearlessly called the hypocritical Pharisees and Sadducees to repentance (Matt 3:1-12). Now John has been imprisoned by Herod Antipas for criticizing his marriage to Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. And she will soon demand that Herod have John beheaded (see Matt 14:3?12).
After the Baptist’s messengers depart, Jesus testifies to John’s unique role in the history of salvation. He is the prophetic messenger, spoken of in Malachi, who would precede the coming of God’s kingdom (see Mal 3:1; Ex 23:20).
“What did you go out to the wasteland to see a reed swaying in the wind?
Tell me, what did you go to out to see —someone luxuriously dressed?
Remember, those who dress luxuriously are found in royal palaces. Why did you go out — to see a prophet?
A prophet indeed, and something more! It is about this man that Scripture says, ‘I send my messenger ahead of you to prepare your way before you.’
I solemnly assure you, history has not known a man born of woman greater than John the Baptizer.”
Despite John’s greatness as the precursor of the Kingdom, Jesus ends by saying: “Yet the least born into the kingdom of God is greater than he.” John belonged to the time of preparation; Jesus is bringing the fulfillment of the Kingdom, but not by being a powerful military Messiah, nor by ruthlessly condemning the unrighteous. The signs of Jesus’ kingdom Jesus are the liberating ones spoken of in Isaiah 35:
“Go back and report to John what you hear and see: the blind recover their sight, cripples walk, lepers are cured, the deaf hear, dead are raised to life, and the poor have the good news preached to them.
Blest is the one who finds no stumbling block in me.”
