A breath of fresh air

 

Every election year, we find ourselves swamped with the seemingly unending process of campaigning and posturing for what is undeniably one of the most significant positions in our country.  I say “swamped” because it’s as if we’re treading water and not really getting any closer to those elements of truth and clarity that ideally lead us toward a prudent and sound judgment about just who it is that should lead our country.  The only authority that’s being evoked, it seems to me, is the authority that taps into feelings and emotions of anger and mistrust.  Sadly, these won’t lead us to the best end we can hope for in this great country of ours.

In these days of Advent we await the coming of the Lord, a coming that’s pure and simple, not veiled with power and authority, but in the unexpected and amazing birth of a little child.  Isn’t this how the Lord works in our lives?  He catches our attention by drawing us to a newborn babe, vulnerable and innocent, carefully avoiding the mighty and powerful rulers and kings!

Jesus Himself had to face the politics and conflicts of ordinary life.  Interestingly, in the Gospel of Matthew we find the Lord being put into an unusual position by the chief priests and elders.  Only desirous of trapping Jesus and gaining popular appeal, these devious men challenged the authority and truthfulness of His mission and His teachings.  Yet, Jesus refused to give in to the hollow debate and made it abundantly clear that His authority, the truth of all He was about, would one day be revealed without falling into the game of devious words and clever debate.  He asked a simple question, that had the ‘authorities’ tripping all over themselves.

“Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.” So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” (Matthew 21:25–27)

This is a perfect example of how not to live your life.  But, sadly, this is too often an illustration of the way many in authority do live their lives.  The Pharisees were acting just like what we could term “religious politicians.”  A religious politician is one whose religious convictions are decided in a backwards sort of way.  Ideally, we turn our eyes to Christ and all that He’s revealed to us.  This produces the glorious gift of authentic faith, and from that rock foundation of faith, we act.  But the Pharisees allowed their “convictions” to be based on what they perceived would produce the best outcome at the moment.  They chose to say “We do not know” where John’s baptism was from because they thought it was the answer that most safeguarded them from any criticism.

As followers of Christ, we need to be ready and willing to suffer any and all ridicule that comes from living our convictions of faith in an open way.  Faith will lead to charity (love), and charity (love) will always be grounded in the truths of faith. But when we live and proclaim the truth, we’ll be criticized by some and we’ll suffer as a result.

This Gospel offers us all an invitation to reflect upon the difficult truths of our day and age and to decide whether or not we’re willing to publicly profess the truth.  Think, especially, about the many moral truths of our faith that seem to be continually under attack.  Are we willing to speak our faith clearly, with charity (love) and with conviction, even if it means criticism from the world?

The Lord comes to shed His light on the world, to bring truth and goodness that will shine in the darkness and will be known for itself.  If we want to follow Jesus and bring a real breath of fresh air into the popular arena today, perhaps the best course of action we can take is to resist the easy siding with those who appeal to our fears and worries and, instead, embrace regardless of cost, the path that comes from the only one who can claim that “I am the way, the truth, and the light.” (John 14:6).  Perhaps the invitation at this point in Advent waiting is to breathe in a few deep breaths, listen carefully to all that’s said measured by the light of the Gospel and the teachings of Jesus, and then wait even longer until the truth becomes clearer to us.  The Lord will show us the way.  In the meantime, rejoice, because He’s coming soon!