Matthew 11: 2-15
When John heard in prison about the deeds of
Christ, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or
should we expect someone else?”
Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you
hear and see: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy
are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are awakened, and those who have become
poor receive the message of salvation. Blessed are those who are not offended
by my Being.”
 |
| John the Baptist |
When they had gone, Jesus began to speak about
John. “Why did you go out into the desert? Did you want to see a reed swaying
in the wind? Or was it something else you wanted to see? Did you want to see a
man in splendid garments? Those in splendid garments are in the palaces of kings.
Did you go to see a man who is initiated into he mysteries of the spirit, a
prophet? Yes, I say to you—he is more than a prophet. He it is of whom it is
written:
Behold
it well: I will send my angel before your face;
He
shall prepare the way of your working in the hearts of men
So
that your being may be revealed.
The truth I say to you: among all who are born of
women, not one has risen up who is greater than John the Baptist; and yet the
least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the
Baptist, and even more now, the kingdom of heaven will arise within human
beings through the power of the will; those who exert themselves can freely
grasp it. The deeds of the prophets and the content of the Law are words of the
spirit that were valid [worked into the future] until the time of John. And if
you want to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear,
let him hear.”
3rd St. Johnstide
July 8, 2007
Matthew 11: 2-15
Evolution has a way of introducing surprises. One could not predict for
example the emergence of a rose blossom out of the leaves and thorns that
precede it. The surprise development is something softer, more beautiful,
colorful and fragrant. Something with no thorns at all. And something that will
develop the seeds of new life.
We have come to a doorway in the year when something totally new is to
begin. The ancient Hebrews expected the flower of their development as God’s
people to be a mighty priest-king or prophet, an upholder of the ancient law.
Instead, the Messiah was different from what went before, unexpected, unpredictable.
The flowering of divine humanity in Christ Jesus appears as a healer. He
strengthens others. He supplements what is missing. He heals, cures, saves
through a new capacity. Christ evolves a new capacity of love. This love is
characterized by being voluntary. It volunteers to love all, without any kind
of preceding sympathy or ties of relationship. This voluntary love contains the
seeds of life. Volunteering to love creates heaven on earth through an act of
will. Learning to love has been given into our hands. Now it is up to us to
germinate the seeds of Christ-love in our hearts.
The words of Hafiz are helpful here:
We
Are not
In pursuit of formalities
Or fake religious Laws,
For through the stairway of existence
We have come to God’s
Door.
We are
People who need to love, because
Love is the soul’s life,
Love is simply creation’s greatest joy.
….we all now come to
The Beloved’s
