Richard Mallory

Serious
by Steve Garnaas-Holmes

Jesus began to speak about John:
“What did you go out into the wilderness to look at?”
—Matthew 11.7

We don’t seek someone in soft robes,
a spokesperson from the royal ballroom.
We’re not just awaiting the happy morning
with presents and family and comfort food.
We await a Messiah who will be with us
in our loss and lay hands on our trauma,
and heal us and the evils of this world.
It will disturb—a thorough pruning,
axes at the roots of unfruitful trees,
winnowing and cleansing fire.
It will be a firm and gentle revolution
against the Empire of hate and greed:
the unwhole healed, the dead raised,
the poor receiving good news,
the desert blossoming.
God’s intent for us is serious.
So our Advent preparations are festive:
we deck halls, bake cookies, wrap gits.
But they are also sober and deeply attentive.
We hang lights, but also honor the darkness,
for it is in this darkness, this,
that the promise unfolds among us,
this darkness in which God comes
to be with us in our anguish.
We let our eyes adjust, to see in the dark.
When we see clearly what we see,
the world indeed begins to change.

Dear Friends of Christ,

In this poem on today’s Gospel from Matthew, John the Baptist is background for Jesus’ summation of his mission and purpose. Whereas John was like most Jews of that era, expecting a violent messiah who would overthrow Roman brutality, Jesus redefines messiah. In the culture of Jesus, “the unwhole (are) healed, the dead raised, the poor (receive) good news and the desert (blossoms). These are all nonviolent actions. At any time when the unwhole are healed and the deadened parts of human beings are brought to life and the impoverished receive good news which is as Fr. John Dear says, “…that their poverty is not the will of God.” For us who are economically privileged awareness of inner poverty keeps us spiritually sober in wisdom that none of us “has it all together.”

Wherever blindness is replaced by sight and with all of these signs is the presence of the Christ. And for us who are economically privileged, Jesus preference for the economically devastated will definitely “keep us in line!!” In line if only we allow it. In line if only we see the value of being in line, in that place to which we journey in this Advent. That place is the manger. That place is a place of unimaginable joy where the answer to “the Empire of hate and greed” is  incarnated into history.

In this passage, Jesus is answering John’s question “Are you the one?” He answers in the affirmative by offering evidence that is cited above. After summing up all that he is about, Jesus gives another beatitude, “And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” Again, Fr. John Dear, “Blessed are they who trust me no matter what, even if they have questions, even if they are confused, even if they do not understand, even if their expectations are not met. Trust me, trust the evidence of the good works of nonviolence, and  you will be blessed.”

Yours in Christ,

—Richard