|
Changing
Expectations
December
16, 2007
Fr.
George Smiga
Matthew
11:2-11
It
is only a week until Christmas and therefore the witness of
John the Baptist is more important than ever. Probably the
greatest gift of John the Baptist's witness is his ability
to change, his ability to refocus his expectations, to let
what he wants go and to accept what God gives. We see John
doing that in today's gospel. In most of the passages of scripture
concerning John, he is confident that Jesus is the Messiah
and he proclaims this good news to others. But today's gospel
is different.
In
today's gospel John is not so sure. For some reason it seems
John was expecting a different kind of Messiah. To express
his doubt and his disappointment he sends his disciples to
ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait
for another?” That is like saying, “I had something else in
mind and I am thinking that maybe I should wait for someone
else.” Look how Jesus responds. He does not attack John. He
does not defend himself. He simply points to the undeniable
great things that are happening in his ministry. Jesus says,
“Maybe you were expecting something else. Maybe you wanted
someone more challenging or more aggressive, someone who would
make a bigger splash. But look: the blind can see, the lame
can walk, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good
news brought to them. And blessed are you if you can see it.
Blessed are you if you do not take offense that the Messiah
who you were expecting is not me. Blessed are you if you can
let go of what you were expecting and claim the good things
that God is doing through me.”
Now
we have every reason to believe that John was able to let
go and accept Jesus as the Christ. Many of us might have to
follow the example of John as Christmas approaches. Because
of all the times of the year, none places more expectations
upon us than Christmas. We have expectations of what Christmas
should be that go all the way back to our childhood. We want
it to be a calm and joyful season. We want our gifts to be
perfect. We want our family to be at peace. We want our hearts
to be filled with love and hope.
There
is nothing wrong with any of these expectations. But from
year to year life does not always cooperate. If we are worried
about our job or our future, it is hard to have a heart that
is filled with joy and hope. If we are dealing with the loss
of someone in death or a serious illness that is affecting
someone whom we love, we do not have the energy or the desire
for Christmas shopping or for celebrations with family and
friends. When our families are marked with anger or divorce,
it is unlikely that we will find peace under our Christmas
tree.
In
those circumstances we can feel very much like John the Baptist.
We can ask Christ, “Is this really the Christmas that I have
to celebrate this year? I would prefer to wait for another.”
Jesus in his own patient way responds, “This is what it is
this year. But I hope that you can see the good things that
are still happening in your life. Blessed are you, if you
can see them. Blessed are you, if you do not take offense
that the Christmas you expected is not the one you have. Blessed
are you, if despite your worries and your fears, you can still
be thankful because of your family, your health, your friends,
your home. I know that you wanted more. I know that you expected
it to be different. But if you can find the good things that
are present in your life, they will be enough.”
The
good news about Christmas is that it does not need to meet
our expectations. It does not have to be big. It does not
have to be the same as it was ten years ago, or even last
year. It does not have to compare to anybody else's Christmas.
At the heart of this feast is the good news that God comes
to us. And God comes to us in whatever circumstances we find
ourselves, even if they are ones that we were not expecting.
For many of us, then, it is important to follow the example
of the Baptist. We must let go of what we were expecting and
accept what has been given. We must forget the things we cannot
have and claim the good things in our life that are ours.
If we can do that, if we can claim the blessings that God
has indeed given us, we will find Christ. And if we find Christ,
we will find Christmas.
So
let us find him and rejoice.
|
