SERMON -- For What?
Rev. Barry W. Szymanski, J.D.
First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa
1st Advent
November 28, 2010

Matthew 11:2-11 [NRSV]

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to [Jesus], ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’

Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.’

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: ‘what did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

This is the one about whom it is written, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way beforeyou.” Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

SERMON

There are many scriptural passages for this season of Advent – which is a season of preparation. Today’s reading is suggested by many liturgical calendars. It is one of my favorites – it has so much meaning – for it is not just a historical text, nor just a theological text, but it is a spiritual text – based upon human experience, common sense, and testimony!

Let’s back up a bit for some background on today’s scripture reading. The first backup we need to make is to look at the passage in Luke’s Gospel when it is recorded that after John the Baptist, was born, his father, Zechariah announced this prophesy: “And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way for him,” [Luke 1:76-77a]

Luke’s Gospel records that as John the Baptist grew up, “He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching . . . repentance… As is written in the book of Isaiah the prophet: A voice of one calling in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” [at Chapter 3:3-6] John’s baptism with water was - a cleansing – a being reborn! And remember that when Jesus was about 30 years old he went out to John to be baptized by him.

Let’s do the second backup. About the time of the Babylonian Captivity, the prophet Isaiah told the people that: the coming Messiah was not going to be a Warrior King, nor was he going to establish a great political Kingdom, but instead he was going to be a servant – a suffering servant!

Isaiah told the people how to recognize the Messiah for the Christ would: “. . . preach good news to the poor. [heal] the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom for the captives and release prisoners from darkness . . . “ [Isaiah 61:1,2]

Let’s also back up to one of the first times Jesus got into trouble. This is recorded in Luke’s Gospel at chapter 4: At: Nazareth, where he had been brought up, on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, ... And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Then Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’” Luke records that . . . All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. [Luke 4 17:16-30]

Let us now look at today’s scripture reading. John is in prison so he cannot baptize anymore, therefore his followers are asking John what to do. John recognizes that Jesus is probably the Messiah that has been promised for centuries. John is well aware that the Messiah will bring a spiritual Kingdom.

In today's reading: “When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" What did Jesus reply? To describe him, he told them the same passage that Isaiah prophesied; which was the same passage from Isaiah that Jesus read when announced himself! That the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who are deformed by leprosy and are now outcasts are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.”

As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to tell the crowd about John. I can picture Jesus standing, not sitting, when he spoke of his friend, John. And then He asked them some questions, I’m thinking, in a somewhat powerful voice, "What did you go out into the desert to see?” I picture no one in the crowd answering, so Jesus answered for them! “A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces.” I picture quiet as no one dared to interrupt Jesus. And I think he looked around at each person in the crowd, and he asked again in a forceful voice: “Then what did you go out to see? A prophet?” At this point I can see most in the crowd nodding their heads in affirmation. Jesus continued talking about John: “Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' So what does scripture tell us?

Two key points: The first is that John’s role, as prophesied by his father Zachariah, was to prepare a way smooth and level and easy so people at that time were prepared for Jesus. Why? So that when Jesus began preaching and Jesus announced that the Kingdom of God is near, people were ready to hear. This being ready to hear the message of the Christ is key.

As I reflect on the Gospels I continue to realize that the apostles were to hear the message, and then live and preach Jesus’s message. When Jesus sent out the 72 disciples, He expected them to live His message, and to preach it. Paul’s epistles show how he lived and preached God’s Kingdom.

The Acts of the Apostles are the stories of how God’s Kingdom grew after Jesus’ resurrection – by being lived and preached!! Today each of us, out-loud, asked God in the Lord’s prayer, that “God’s Kingdom come on earth – as it is in heaven.”

In my life, when I began to truly get into the Gospel it became so apparent to me that God’s Kingdom does not come about today by Jesus without people – God’s Kingdom ‘is near’ because of those who walk with Jesus, and IN Jesus, and work WITH Jesus.

When I was growing up, I found it very easy to point to my neighbor – and expected her and him to do the job! – But the truth is that: just as God sent Jesus to be born to help us – Jesus sends us to help others! Jesus needs you and me! That’s why we speak of the Body of Christ. That is why Church. That’s why Baptism. That’s why Communion.

For God’s Kingdom comes about one person at a time – but all working together, with the strength of God’s grace. You and I, individually, are the successors to the job that John the Baptist had to “ . . . go before the Lord to prepare the way for him.”

During Advent we prepare our own hearts, and we also decorate our homes, which are a joyous ways of preparing for Christmas. Gift giving is, as it should be, a happy way of celebrating Christmas. Trees and garlands and poinsettias are, as they should be, a festive way of decorating for Christmas. All of these lead us to prepare the way for the Lord to come into our hearts. And, equally important, to do everything in our power to prepare the way for the Lord for everyone around us. When John was put into prison, he knew that his work was up and maybe even his life and he wanted his followers to realize that Jesus was the person to follow.

Jesus told the crowd that John was not just a reed in the wilderness to be looked at in amazement – to be photographed, and a framed enlargement to be hung on a wall; and that he was not dressed in fine clothes for a portrait to be placed on a shelf – instead he was God’s working messenger.

Then Jesus told us what he thinks of us! And what Jesus said has to give us much comfort: “I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” [Matt 11:11] Jesus’ message is so clear: each of us is as worthy to be a child of God, and to enter heaven; all we have to do is to follow in the steps of John as he prepared the Way for the Lord.

And now we get to my second, and last, key point: When Jesus cured people, did he expect anything of them? One answer is no, it was gratuitous love. The second answer is no, it was only to prove that Jesus was the Son of God made Man for our salvation. The third answer, I believe, ties into Jesus’ comment about John the Baptist – and that means this for us:

When those individuals were healed and are no longer blind, or deaf, or lame, or deformed – and now able to see God and see their neighbor more clearly – and now able to able to hear God and hear their neighbor more clearly -- and now able to walk to God and walk to their neighbor easily – and now made whole and not outcasts of society I firmly believe that Jesus expected that they would then work to bring God’s Kingdom on this earth.

When you and I are healed and no longer blind but now able to see God and see our neighbor more clearly it becomes our job to work to bring about God’s Kingdom on this earth. When you and I are healed and are no longer deaf and now able to able to hear God and hear what our neighbors need to tell us we are to make the way easy for God’s Kingdom on this earth for those around us. When you and I healed and are no longer lame and now able to walk to God and walk to neighbor it becomes our task to take God’s Kingdom on this earth to others. When you and I are healed and are no longer deformed but now made whole [and not outcasts of society] it is our task to show what God can accomplish in His earthly Kingdom through love and compassion and acceptance.

Daily we encounter, loved ones, spouses, children, grandchildren, even great-grandchildren, friends, acquaintances, co-workers, store clerks, deliverers, bosses, employees, fellow volunteers, drivers of vehicles on the road, people we stand in line with, and fellow parishioners! Everyone is searching for God – or a God-substitute. Somehow, they are seeking the person who is the Anointed of God. So it is not the job of you or I to be a reed blowing in the wind, but it is our job to prepare the way for God and His Son Jesus and their Holy Spirit, to enter the hearts of our neighbors.

The minimum that God asks of us is not to be an obstacle to others. Leave that job for the Pharisees of this earth – for they still exist – and often do their job very well. In 2010 there are enough Card Carrying Pharisee happily working at being Pharisees. We need not join them. Our job – yours and mine -- is to concretely bring the Kingdom of God to others by striving to make their way to God smooth and easy.

Let us pray.

Lord, we realize the love you have for us in giving your Son to us as God-with-us. Lord, we thank you for freely giving us the grace of your healing love. May we do all in our power not to bury ourselves watching TV, but see you and see our neighbor. Not just talk, but to listen to you and to listen to our neighbor. Not to just sit in comfort, but to walk to help you and our neighbor. Lord, in this season of Advent, we pray for the grace to do all in our power to prepare a smooth way for your Son to enter the hearts of others.

Lord, may we extend your love to all we meet. We pray for this from the depths of our hearts, in the name of your Son, Jesus, whose birth we shall soon celebrate! Amen.

Let us pray.

Lord, God, we are preparing for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. This is a busy time of year – a time to prepare to purchase gifts to give, to decorate our homes, and to party with family and friends. Yet, in this advent season when we are also preparing to welcome Christ into our hearts, minds and souls, it is difficult to find the time for quiet meditation.

Yet, Lord God, Joseph and Mary found the time. We pray that we find the time to recognize and honor Advent for what it is: a time to ponder the incarnation of your son, Jesus, our Messiah, who has come to us, human, weak and defenseless, yet trusting in your grace and protection.

Lord, God, we pray that we, who are so very helpless, be open to confidently trust in you, and rely on your goodness. We pray this Christ our Lord, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Amen.