“ADVENT THREE 2024”
Saint Matthew 11: 2-10
3rd Sunday of Advent: December 15 Anno Domini 2024
Fr Jay Watson, SSP
Christ’s ministry, His preaching/teaching and healing miracles were continuing apace. The context of John’s activity and Jesus’ reply is not as specific as it may appear.
Wherever Christ went He was with sinners. In all locations from Nazareth to Capernaum to Judea, to Jerusalem, He thronged by large crowds, small groups, or His own “12,” and they were all sinners. Sinners in need of forgiveness. Sinners in need of more of His Word. Only The Word of God creates faith and strengthens faith.
In the preceding chapter of Saint Matthew’s Evangel, Christ has called, commissioned, and sent the “12” out into the country to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils, raise the dead, and to preach—saying “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand” [Mt. 10. 7-8]. This is the tie-in, the connecting thread to John the Baptist; to you.
The Disciples did what Jesus commanded them to do, even knowing His warning: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles” [Mt. 10. 16-18].
The “12” would all return safely from their inaugural preaching and ministry assignments—their vicarage. But Christ’s prophetic words would be realized after His Ascension when they went into all the Gentile world with The Gospel—to their martyrdoms.
John the Baptist, however, was not given those extra years and months of service and pastoring. His time was at an end. John, the Elijah to come, was never much on being “wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove.” That was not His mission.
But when he was arrested by Herod, he was given by The Spirit to preach God’s Law. “For Herod had laid hold on, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife” [Mt. 14. 3]. John Scripture does not give us John’s full sermon to Herod, but only these bold words: “it is not lawful for thee to have her” [v. 4b]!
This was no reed shaken with the wind. This was no man clothed in soft clothing. He was not in a king’s house but a foul, dark, dungeon.
This was the scene. This IS your scene. You sinners crave clothes and comfortable homes. You accommodate, to your friends, family, and neighbors whatever the prevailing sentiments and situations are. And you daily find yourselves imprisoned in your own gaols of sins darkness and despair. But you are not beheaded, you are not tortured, Christ was—for you. Christ’s own head was wounded and hung in death for John, and for you. Christ always spoke The Word of God for He was THE Word of God.
Who was John? God gives you His answer: “A Prophet…more than a Prophet…My messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before Me.” John’s words to Herod, to you, were Jesus’ words—“in the stead and by the command.”
So, was John scared while he languished in prison? Maybe. Maybe not. Did John stop believing in His Messiah kinsman; having a crisis of faith? Really? This was He who was filled with faith from his mother’s womb—who leaped for joy at Saint Mary’s Magnificat—a canticle which was the pure Gospel of The Lord—The Word in melody. This was a man whose whole life was preaching God’s Word culminating in his Jordan River crescendo: “behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” [Jn. 1. 29]; the same Word which you will hear at the conclusion of the ‘Words of Institution’ when I turn from the Altar with The Word’s very Body and true Blood.
No, John knew The Savior, and trusted in The Savior. Even in prison “John…heard…the works of Christ.” What about you? Do you, in your most depressed hours, your most painful and sad and distressing days, hear the works of Christ? You do not if you are not in The Word, not just daily meditating on Scripture, but here, where His Gospel is proclaimed for your forgiveness and strength.
So, what about the two of John’s disciples that he sent to Jesus with the question: “art thou He that should come, or do we look for another?” This was their question, their lingering doubt, not John’s. The Baptist is doing even in prison what he did at the Jordan. Could they have been Andrew and James? While possible, it does not really matter. The two represent all Christians who need to be constantly reminded by The Holy Spirit that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by The Word of God—Jesus!
Today is Gaudete—which means “rejoice ye.” This 16th century Latin Christmas carol, which would have been familiar to all the reformers, is commonly associated also with the Blessed Virgin.
It is Gospel drenched lyric is Jesus’ motto of mercy for you: “Gaudete, Gaudete! Christus est natus ex Maria Virginie, Gaudete,” i.e., “Rejoice, Rejoice! Christ is born of the Virgin Mary.”
What did you come to church for today? What did you come to see? An exquisite cathedral or basilica served by a high priest dressed in the finest vestments money could buy? Did you come for emotional “charging” and Pentecostal feelings and spiritual entertainment?
No. You are miserable and sinful and you need mercy and forgiveness. You need The Word to lift you up and sustain you in your prison until such time as The Lord returns again, not in Christmas Glory, but in Resurrection Triumph. You need His Word. You have never needed anything else but His Word.
“The blind receive their sight [you are Baptized]; the lame walk [you are Absolved]; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear [you are receiving Jesus’ preachment]; the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them [come, for The Supper is ready]. That is it. There is no more—only The Lamb of God for you. The Word of The Lord!
In The Name of The Father and of + The Son and of The Holy Ghost
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