JOHN WAS MUCH MORE THAN A PROPHET

III SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Matthew 11:2-11

John had been arrested because, in an act of extraordinary boldness, he dared to denounce the immoral behaviour of Herod Antipas, who was living in concubinage with his sister-in-law Herodias. While in prison, he heard many things about Jesus, that Jesus whom he had pointed out to his disciples as the Lamb of God. From what he heard, he was puzzled, for Jesus was not behaving in the way he had predicted, and a doubt aroused in his mind: was he the Messiah or he had been misled about Jesus whom he considered far greater than him? He announced that the Messiah would bring God's judgment by cutting off the dry branches, separating the grain from the straw, and burning the useless stubble to offer God a righteous and holy people. But Jesus was not doing that. He mixed with everybody and feel at ease in the company of sinners. Therefore, John felt the need of obtaining confirmation: is he the Messiah or not? “And he sent his disciples to ask him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or have we got to wait for someone else?’. In his response, Jesus presented the great signs of the Messiah, as announced principally by the prophet Isaiah (Is 29:18; 35:5-6). n fact, Jesus’ response was very similar to the text of Isaiah (see Lk 4:18) that he read in the synagogue of Nazareth. Jesus came to bring the Good News to the poor. He came to save, not to condemn.

As soon as John's disciples left, Jesus praised John as the greatest of human beings. Indeed, being the "messenger" who came to prepare the way of the Lord, he is much greater than the prophets. Jesus presents John as a man of integrity, who does not turn according to the wind. He is incorruptible, for wealth, power, and glory mean nothing to him. From the way he lived, we might think of John as a madman. However, the people recognised in him the wisdom manifested in God's madness and rushed to listen to his message. His voice coming from the desert still reverberates and its echoes can still be heard. He spoke as a free man and his strong, vigorous and fearless voice goes on disturbing our deceptive stillness, throwing up challenges and provocations to the false well-being in which we have settled. Today as well, we need men of integrity in the manner of John, who by their lifestyle are a denunciation and a challenge to our behaviour centred on merriness, the unbridled search for wealth and the oppressive affirmation of power. We need courageous voices that do not allow themselves to be gagged and that boldly point out the path that leads to salvation.

Even though John was already on the threshold, he still belonged to the Old Testament and therefore "the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is.” We who in Christ receive the Spirit that makes us children of God belong to a new age that surpasses all expectations.