Deus, in adjutorium meum intende. Domine, ad adjuvandum me festina.
O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me.
On December 6, I posted on this blog my observations on Bill O'Reilly's book, Killing Jesus. One paragraph dealt with John the Baptist while in prison sending two of his disciples to ask Jesus if He was "The One." Matthew 11: 2-10. This is the Gospel read for the Second Sunday of Advent. I explained why O'Reilly was wrong in his opinion that John was doubting and why.
In our parish bulletin for the Second Sunday of Advent our pastor has a homily of St. John Chrysostom on that very subject. He was a Bishop and Doctor of the Church who died in exile in the year 407. As John did not answer his disciples directly, but sent them to Jesus, so Our Lord did not answer them directly either. Following is the excerpt.
************************
Christ, understanding the mind of John, did not immediately reply: "Yes, I am He," for that would have offended His hearers; though it could well be answered. But he allowed them to learn the answer from the deeds they witnessed. For it is narrated that then and there He cured many from among those who came to Him. Where would be the sequenCe of this action if, questioned as to whether He was the One, He makes no reply but immediately begins to cure the sick, unless that He wished to do as i say? He deemed testimony from deeds more credible than any words, and less liable to suspicion.
Since then, as God, He knew with what purpose John had sent those men, He forthwith heals the blind, the lame, and many others; not so as to instruct John; for why instruct one who already knew and believed; but that He might confirm the minds of John's doubting disciples. And then when He had cured many, He says: Go and relate to John what you have seen and heard. The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the Gospel preached to them. Then He adds: And blessed is he that is not scandalized in Me; showing that He knew the secret thoughts of their hearts.
*********************
It's so nice to know that I can rely on one of the early Saints to back me up!
12/14/13
No comments:
Post a Comment