When you begin to study the bible, you find that not only are the 4 gospels written in slightly different styles, but they are also written to slightly different audiences. Matthew was written to the Jewish converts to Christianity. While Mark was written to the non-Jews that were embracing the teachings of Jesus. You can see how the two of these would be written slightly different.
Matthew begins with the genealogy of Jesus. Perfectly suited to the Jewish communities that had been raised on the history of their people. While Mark jumps over all that and goes right to John the Baptist. Again, this goes to where the audience lived. Their communities have a great connection to baptism as that is how they came into the faith.
The interesting thing about Luke, today’s author, is that he takes a different approach all together. He was also preaching to Gentiles, but he had a purpose in mind. Luke says in his introduction that he is writing from firsthand accounts and in an orderly fashion so that we might know what has been taught. In other words, leave nothing to doubt Luke is going to set us straight.
So, while both Mark and Luke tell of John the Baptist, Luke tells of this interesting discussion with the crowd before He introduces John. In today’s Gospel Luke has Jesus defending John, his cousin. It is almost as if he were saying “what did you expect to find? This man lives in the desert, eats bugs and wraps himself in animal skins. Were you looking for one of the Kardashian?”
This was a great example of Jesus telling us that what is valued on earth might be a little different from what is valued in heaven. The earth is looking for “Someone dressed in fine garments”, or dressed luxuriously, or living in fine palaces. And I this case heaven is sending someone with a purpose in mind. A prophet, “one about whom the Scripture says: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, he will prepare your way before you.”
The reaction to this messenger, shared by Luke at the end, tells all. It is as if he steps out of character and adds in parentheses “All the people who listened, including the tax collectors, who were baptized with the baptism of John, acknowledged the righteousness of God; but the Pharisees and scholars of the law, who were not baptized by him, rejected the plan of God for themselves”. And that is what it is all about. Whether Jews or Gentiles, followers of Mark or Matthew, dressed luxuriously or clad in animal skins God has a plan for us.
In the first reading it ends with: This is for me like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah should never again deluge the earth; So I have sworn not to be angry with you, or to rebuke you. Though the mountains leave their place and the hills be shaken, My love shall never leave you”.
There, you heard Him, right? He said it, and he can’t take it back. If you are a Gentile in the time of Luke this is what you want to hear. If you are a Jew in the temples with Matthew this is what you want to hear. As a matter of fact, if you are a catholic, just trying to do the best that you can in a little snowy mountain town in Colorado this is what you want to hear. “My love shall never leave you”.
It doesn’t matter where I live, it doesn’t matter what I wear “Fear not, you shall not be put to shame; you need not blush, for you shall not be disgraced. The shame of your youth you shall forget, the reproach of your widowhood no longer remembers. For he who has become your husband is your Maker; his name is the Lord of hosts; Your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, called God of all the earth. The Lord calls you back.
And that, Charlie Brown, is what Christmas is really all about. You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger. And he is Christ the Lord. That baby is calling you back, He is calling us back.
Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his path: All flesh shall see the salvation of God.
LK 7:24-30 21:28-32
When the messengers of John the Baptist had left,
Jesus began to speak to the crowds 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 garments?
Those who dress luxuriously and live sumptuously
are found in royal palaces.
Then what did you go out to see?
A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
This is the one about whom Scripture says:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
he will prepare your way before you.
I tell you,
among those born of women, no one is greater than John;
yet the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.”
(All the people who listened, including the tax collectors,
who were baptized with the baptism of John,
acknowledged the righteousness of God;
but the Pharisees and scholars of the law,
who were not baptized by him,
rejected the plan of God for themselves.)
December 16, 2021
December 16, 2021