Dec11 Written by:Graydog
11/12/2004
Sunday, December 12
2004
Third (Gaudete) Sunday of Advent
Matthew 11:2-11
Jesus' question to the crowd after he has finished talking with the disciples of John the Baptist is rather pertinent with us even today. "What did you go out to the desert to see?" And he goes on with some rather pointed questions... "Someone dressed in fine clothing?...a prophet?" We are asked those same questions. What am I coming to see? Am I at Mass to check out the latest fashion statement, or the latest bodies within those fashion statements? Do I go to church functions ONLY for the food (all kidding aside...)? Am I really on fire for the sensational side of religion, like supposed apparitions and possible healings, always looking for some sign? Why am I even here right now? Regardless of my or your answer, Jesus then launches right past it all saying that yes, you'll see some good stuff, and that John the Baptist was right up there on the top of humanity, BUT that even the least in heaven is still greater than John. Jesus is telling us that our ultimate goal lies in our hope to get to heaven, and the attaining of that goal above all else. It is only then, as our Catholic Faith tells us, that we are totally doing what we are made to be in the first place: in total communion with God forever. Down here on earth, we are always still working on getting there as long as we are here, so we still haven't reached our "perfection" yet, although we can be right on God's schedule for ourselves as we cooperate with His Spirit inside us. So the long and short of it all to me is that, Praise God, we do have a shot at heaven, and that we can work it out as our lives go on. For me then, the motivation of coming here, of being here, has to not be fashion, fame or anything of this world, but rather keeping in mind the Lord and His promises and the ultimate vacation: life forever in heaven!
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