“CHRIST PREACHES HIS GOSPEL TO YOU”
Saint Matthew 11: 1-10
Gaudete: 16 December Anno Domini 2018
Father Jay Watson SSP
What were the “works of Christ?” The many and varied “works” of Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, Rabbis, Fishermen, Tax Collectors, Shepherds, butcher, baker, and candlestick maker…don’t count for squat. Either Christ is or Christ is not. Either there is a God of Holy Scripture or not. And if there is a God and He has promised to send His Christ—His Anointed Messias—then is the Man from Nazareth that One or not. And what’s He been up to?
Saint John The Baptist, the “greatest of men,” was devout, rigorous, disciplined, and utterly fearless. He was also a believing Israelite who trusted The Lord and looked for the coming of the kingdom of God. John preached The Commandments. He called sinners to repentance. He Baptized His kinsman, Jesus of Nazareth, and confessed Jesus to be The Lamb of God—the very Christ prophesied in Genesis 3.15. John’s true greatness was not in his own life, as great as it was, as sinful as it was, and as violent as it was going to conclude. John’s greatness was in The Grace that was shown to Him by Jesus. John’s glory was Christ’s forgiveness and the mercy shown John.
Every one needs Jesus. Everyone does horribly bad things every day. Every one sins. Every one should go to hell after dying. That includes me, all of you, the “two…disciples” that were sent to Jesus to inquire of Him, and of John The Baptist himself.
Every one needs to have the Good News of Who Jesus is, and what He has done, spoken into their ears. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by The Word of God.
The question given the two by John is the same question He gives to you. It’s the question Jesus once asked the “12” at Caesarea Philippi “Whom to men say that the Son of Man is?” Who is Jesus?
If one answers that there was no Jesus, or, that if there was, He was simply a wise man who was killed by the Romans, then the answer is really: “There is no God, and I, myself, am ‘like a god.’”
If the answer is Martha of Bethany’s answer; Saint Thomas-didymus’ answer, and Saint Simon bar-Jonas’ answer: “Thou art The Christ, The Son of The Living God,” then The Holy Ghost has worked God’s work and you, and they, and all the lost lambs, have been Graced.
You need not look for any other deliverer. You don’t have to trust in wealth, “safety-nets” and insurance, family and friends, the right legislative makeup, guns, disaster hordes, or a strong military government. You don’t have to rely on your own energy, perseverance, or even your own “faith!”
The answer why your dead Mother will rise again, imperishable and glorified—IS in The Word of God. The answer to your constant pain, your depressed emotional shambles—IS in The Word of God. The answer to your anger, loneliness, and disgust over your inability to be good—IS in The Word of God. That Word is written. Read it. That Word was written for those two disciples, for John, for the “12,” for Caiaphas, Anas, Herod, and Pilate. But even more glorious and good, That Word was written in The Flesh and Blood of Jesus, and in His Works: “go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.”
You’re here by the power of The Holy Ghost. You seek none other than He Who is crucified for your forgiveness and raised for your eternity. You are not offended but rather you glory in the cross of Christ. Blessed are you - -
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of The Holy Ghost
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