Wilderness and Prison

As I continue to look ahead at this coming Sunday’s Gospel lesson (Matthew 11:2-11), I am struck by a stark juxtaposition. Since we last saw John the Baptist in our reading for the Second Sunday of Advent (Matthew 3:1-12), the prophetic messenger has moved from the wilderness to a prison cell. What a difference a week makes! Of course, this happened over a longer period of time, but as we fast-forward through John’s ministry I am disheartened by this juxtaposition.

I am disheartened by where John’s speaking out led him. I am saddened that when the Baptizer chose to speak truth to power the result was jail time. I am upset because in just a couple more chapters John’s fate will be sealed by a bitter mother and a power-drunk politician, and that fate will be a gruesome death. Mostly though I am angry because a prophet’s life has not gotten any easier over the past two thousand years.

No one likes to hear challenging news, as we all too often confuse it with bad news. And, to some degree for those who cling to power the message of John the Baptist is bad news. This news is bad or at least worrisome to the power-brokers because holding onto the status quo is not part of God’s plan. It never has been and (spoiler alert) it never will be!

Even dating back to the time of Isaiah the way that God was speaking through the Judeo (and later Christian) people seems pretty clear: the eyes of the blind will be opened, the ears of the deaf will be unstopped, the lame shall not just walk but leap, the speechless shall sing, those who are weak will be strengthened, and the fearful will become strong. And yet, the way that this happens is not by keeping things the way they are. Clearly this is true because otherwise our Scriptures would speak of the rich becoming richer, the powerful casting out the powerless, the blind staying blind, and the poor being cast away even further! No, the way things are is bad enough for those who are blind, deaf, lame, speechless, weak, fearful, and poor! Why on earth would God who loves all creatures with the same love want to keep the unhealthy ways of this world the same?!

Change though does not come easily. I can think of very few people who are good at welcoming change. Even good change is tough. This part of Advent—when we remember the forerunner of Christ coming and shifting things, so that all things could be further disrupted by the person of Jesus—reminds us that change is difficult for all involved, but it is necessary for the Kingdom of God to come! As you wait and watch for God's Coming be ready for the change, even if it requires going to the wilderness or even jail in the process!