Dear friends,

This third Sunday of Advent is called “Rejoice! It is the theme of the First reading. Our Advent wreath as the third candle burning and its is a of a brighter color, to symbolize the joy of Christmas, the coming of our Lord

Everyone has to wait for Him as if He were going to come during our life time.

The joy seems to be absent from John. He is in prison because he had the courage to admonish the tyrant of the time, King Herod, directly.

John the Baptist. Of him speak all the four Gospels. He is an historical figure. Josephus the Jewish historian confirms what we know of John from the Gospels.

Our Gospels, thou religious narrations are also historical documents: very accurate in an reliable as archeology has proved. The documents describing the life of Buddha are composed 3oo years after his death.

At the time of Jesus the temple had become a butcher-house and the priests were using religion for their own ends.

A strong movement of renewal had started and a group of people, the Hessenes ha fled Jerusalem and established themselves in the desert. To them we own what is now know as the “Dead Sea Scrolls”.

People debate whether John belong to them. For sure he was a very strong personality. He could have declared himself the promised Messiah and people would have easily believed him. But he called himself the best man and not the groom.

Now John is in prison, and there he undergoes a profound crisis. In his heart there is darkness. What he is hearing about Jesus does not go with what he was expecting. Was he mistaken?

From the dark of prison and on the brink of death, John asks an urgent question: “Are you the one or should we look for another?”  John had announced that God would have punished the wicked and brought peace and justice on earth. He himself is a victim of this evil. God seems to be silent. John’s question is a cry for help. He sent tow of his disciples becomes they were going to be the witnesses required by the Law. It is a comfort to see that even great men like John are going through the same trials and ordeals we are facing everyday.
Jesus honors the question by providing an answer. His answer is very specific and concrete: the blind see, the lame walk etc.
Jesus added something that makes me wonder: ”Blessed is he who takes no offence at me” He means to say: blessed are those who trust me ways. Who are not offended if I seem to be so powerless.

Jesus does not save John from prison and death. He does not even save himself from the Cross. Nor does He prevent us from encountering trouble and sorrow. Jesus shows us how great John was becouase he had built his life on God:” Among men there has be none great as John the Baptist”

John’s question must become our own: Is Jesus the One for us, or are we really looking for another? Should we say “Yes, I trust you, Jesus” then Jesus will declare that we are greater that he, the Baptist “