I was too tired to finish this post last night, so I’m posting it now.

Matthew 11:2-11

When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciple to Jesus with this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what yoiu hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense to me.” As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John, “What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see ? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you. Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

It seems in this Gospel reading that John the Baptist is having second thoughts about Jesus. Perhaps he had different expectations of what the Messiah would be, how He would act, and what He would teach. So, John sends his disciples to Jesus to ask Jesus flat out: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Some scholars are of the opinion that “the one who is to come” was a messianic title. If so, then John is asking Jesus, “Are you the Messiah?”

Jesus doesn’t answer straightforwardly. Instead, He lists a series of His actions: the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. All of these are the works of one sent by God to bring healing to those in distress. John would be comforted by this news. Jesus is telling John, in His own way, that he can be encouraged that Jesus is, indeed, the one who is to come and he need look no further.

Do we sometimes find ourselves asking if Jesus is the answer to our own question: Are you the one I’ve been looking for? Let’s be honest. We looked to Jesus to help us get our lives together. We were hoping, weren’t we?, that Jesus would answer the deep questions that have vexed us throughout our life. Relationships. Career. Physical health. Mental health. Fears. Pressures. Stressers. When we first gave our life to Jesus, there was so much enthusiasm, so much hope, so many expectations about what our life would look like after giving my life to Jesus, and in joining His Church. When we were baptized at the Easter Vigil, our life in Christ seemed so full of potential. Sometimes, or maybe all the time and inevitably, we are disappointed. Jesus is our Savior. He is not our personal magician, waving His magic want to make our troubles go away. Like John, perhaps our expectations were different from the reality we experience. Perhaps we question whether our faith in Jesus was warrented, or merited. All those wonderful things they taught us in OCIA class, those people readily available to answer our questions, the rites that marked each important step along the journey – and then it’s over, and we find that the life of a Catholic in the Church is far more mundane than we expected. As well, the deep questions we had before OCIA seem to still be there, and I’m running out of friends and associates who are even willing to take a shot at answering them.

But perhaps the issue is not our reality, but our expectations. Expectations is one of those things that can quickly destroy a relationship, whether a friendship or a marriage, or our relationship with God. We create expectations of what God will do for us, what He will be for us, and maybe especially we create expectations of His Church. It’s almost impossible not to create some expectations. After all, we’re not just joining a country club. We’re joining Christ’s own Church. The mere thought of it inspires wonderful expectations.

But reality sets in soon enough. Then, like in any relationship of love, we have a decision to make. Are we going to end the relationship, or are we going to commit ourselves to the work of really loving the other. What does it mean to really love God? It means to live a life of perfect obedience to the will of the Father, in imitation of Jesus. We can forget about trying to bribe God, or oblige Him with our good deeds, our Masses, our rosaries, our sacrifices, even our work for the poor or ill or imprisoned. The truth is, works matter in our relationship with God, and the Scriptures make clear that we will be judged for our deeds, or lack thereof. But the only deeds that will count when we stand before Christ in judgment are those done out of pure love for God and for His people. Works performed out of hope that they will get us into heaven are worth nothing. Why? Because we cannot oblige God. We cannot say to God, “Look, Lord, I’ve done this and that and that and this over the course of my life as a Christian. Now, it’s your turn to pay me what you owe me, and that means bringing me in to the kingdom.” That doesn’t work, because it’s an attempt to cash in on our good deeds. It’s grounded in a thinking that, if I do such and such, then God is obliged to save me. But God is obliged to save no one. None of us merit salvation. Salvation is grace, pure gift. Besides, no one can oblige God of anything, much less entry into His kingdom.

John learned that Jesus was, indeed, the Messiah, because He did the things the Messiah was called to do. And He did them out of pure love for His Father and for people. We are to imitate Him, doing the good deeds that we do out of pure love for God, or as close as we can get! These are the deeds, or lack thereof, for which we will be judged. Jesus told His disciples after washing their feet, “Now, go and do likewise.” Jesus has set the example. We are to follow.

Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all.