Advent Reflection

"How can one be greater than John?" those gathered asked, watching another seeker being dunked beneath the lake. "John teaches us to act with justice. He lives as a holy man. He welcomes even sinners to listen and to change."

 

But John promised a greater leader. "The one to come will lead armies, like David," one offered. Another: "She'll be the wisest of queens." "He'll see God's face, like Moses," someone insisted. "Like Lillith, she'll rebirth the world." A child spoke what all were hoping: "The Messiah will vanquish Rome, and we'll be free."

 

No one thought the promised one would be a refugee, a member of a despised race, born on the road into extreme poverty. No one expected that he would suffer.

 

John, they could see, was human. Wouldn't the one he proclaimed be the same? Maybe a magician, they thought, to baptize with fire.

 

Elizabeth would be the first to name him God. No one saw it coming--our great and holy God to crawl into human flesh.  Two thousand years later, we try and fail to understand.

 

This day in Advent, what do you expect of the promised Messiah? And what might our God of mystery send you?

 

 

 

 

 

(reflection on this Sunday's Gospel)