Patient Longing

Audio Recording of “Patient Longing” recorded in worship (13:07)
3rd Sunday in Advent, Year C
Texts: Isa 35.1-10; Jas 5.7-11; Mt 11.2-11

When John first saw Jesus coming for baptism at the Jordan, he knew right away who he was dealing with. We are told he recognized the one who was coming with his winnowing fork in his hand, ready to separate the grain from the chaff. He was hesitant to baptize the one whose shoes he felt unworthy to carry. But now, sitting in prison, word gets back to him about what Jesus is doing, and he begins to have his doubts. The axe is still lying at the root of the trees, right where John left it, and he’s beginning to wonder if Jesus is ever going to pick it up.

John the Baptist Announcing the Messiah, mid 12th Century mosaic. Cappella Palatina di Palermo, Italy. From Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.

When his disciples ask Jesus about this, he tells them to report back what they are seeing and hearing. Recovery of sight and hearing, healing of leprosy and lameness, resurrection of the dead—these are all surely signs of the coming kingdom. Nevertheless, there is decidedly less unquenchable fire involved than John thought there would be; which is why Jesus tells him: “Blessed are those who take no offense at me.”