By Tony Joe:
Bible Reflections on Saint Matthew 11:2-11:
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 11:2-11:
Bible Reflections on Saint Matthew 11:2-11:
In today's Gospel reading, we find John the Baptist developing a doubt in Jesus, and Jesus responding to it in a remarkable way, that leaves eternal lessons about faith and mercy for the posterity.
First let us note what John asks Jesus through his messengers - “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
Yes, that has been the often-repeated doubt about Jesus. Is He really the Messiah?
Of course, in the contemporary world, what we hear are other versions of this same doubt - Is Jesus the Son of God? Or, Is Jesus God?
Now, let us take note of how Jesus responds to this doubt - He cites the numerous miracles that were happening in His healing ministry, and adds that, "Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."
The underlying meaning is very clear. Blessed is he who doesn't lose faith in Christ.
But Jesus specifically said what He said, as per all authentic Gospel translations of St. Matthew - "...not offended because of Me."
When do we lose faith in someone we trusted? It is only when that person does something that is totally unacceptable to us.
In other words, only when that person offends our sensibilities, our understanding, our notions, our beliefs, or our world-view.
When John's messengers came with his doubt, Jesus knew perfectly well that this offence of John's sensibilities had already happened.
John the Baptist was offended at something Jesus had done. What could be that?
The problem lay in John's understanding about what would be the nature of Christ's ministry.
John was fully aware of his community's sinful ways, and based on this he was expecting Jesus to be a tough taskmaster with absolutely no mercy towards sinners.
How could God ever send anyone but a tough Messiah to this people?
As per his own words, Christ would have the "...winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
But see how Jesus unravelled His Ministry - the Kingdom of God - with its most distinguishing factor being mercy towards sinners!
Yes, What he heard about Jesus was more than shocking to John.
A Messiah who interacts with sinners freely, who dines with them at their homes, heals them, and forgives them on the first sign of repentance!
It was this shocking mercy of Jesus that offended John the Baptist, what made him stumble in faith.
However, here we should take note of one cardinal point.
It is not Christ's mercy or charity towards the poor that made John stumble in faith, for he is the great who taught us first that, "He who has two dresses, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”
John stumbled in faith only on account of Christ's mercy towards sinners.
Posterity may keep on judging John for this stumbling in faith, but reality is that we all stumble when it comes to the issue of mercy towards sinners.
John was perfect except for this lack of mercy towards sinners, but where do we stand, as, even while being imperfect sinners ourselves we fail to show mercy to other sinners whom we perceive to be greater sinners than us!
The Baptist wasn't a hypocrite at all, whereas we run the risk of being hypocrites if we profess steadfast faith in Jesus by our mouths, but fail to show mercy to sinners.
Do you think you already have mercy towards sinners? Double check your claim by meditating whether you have mercy towards your enemies.
Because your enemies are those who have sinned against you, or against the causes that you stand for. Do you have mercy for your enemies?
It is a tough call for all, and I too often find myself stumbling in faith, when things come to this cardinal point.
We need not be disappointed, however, as this challenge or hurdle is something that shows the huge gap between man and God. In fact, this gap - mercy towards sinners and enemies - is the real proof that Jesus is the Son of God.
Because, Jesus simply didn't preach this mercy towards sinners and enemies, but demonstrated it on His Cross.
But this is a hurdle all those who claim to follow Jesus has to overcome, because Jesus makes it clear through today's Gospel that no one without mercy to sinners or one's enemies would enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
It is a mark that even a perfect man like John missed! So, we can imagine where do we stand on that regard.
Fortunately, Jesus Himself offers the solution to this supreme challenge, elsewhere in the Gospels. The solution is nothing else but a relentless practice of mercy towards sinners and enemies.
Says, He - "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."
And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:
The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.
But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written:
‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’
“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
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