Go Tell It on the Mountain

Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent

Luke 17:18b-23

And Jesus said to them in reply,“Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

After reading today's gospel,  the familiar song "Go, Tell It on the Mountain" came to my head.  We used to sing it at the Baptist Day Care Wednesday chapel service....

(Verse 4)

When I am a seeker,

I seek both night and day;

I seek the Lord to help me,

And He shows me the way:

Go, Tell It On The Mountain,

Over the hills and everywhere;

Go, Tell It On The Mountain

That Jesus Christ is born.

John's disciples sought out the Lord to ask him if he was "The One" - The Messiah.  They witnessed the blind regaining sight, the lame walking, and the lepers cleansed by the hand of this stranger from Nazareth.  Once again our Lord does not answer the question directly but alludes around it.  He knows he's been discovered, yet his humility keeps him from directly confessing to everyone his divine nature.  Only true believers will figure out and understand.  Jesus says, "...the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.  And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

How can a man who cures people offend anyone? Sadly, we know the Pharisees and scribes took offense of Jesus, mainly because he healed on the Sabbath.  Then again, jealousy and resentment most likely inflamed their hearts.

I find it interesting John sent his disciples to speak to Jesus.  Didn't John already know his cousin was the Son Of Man??  Hmmm...  If he was busy in the desert preaching, maybe he "heard" about the miracle man but didn't know who he was.  I figure news traveled slowly back in the day.  John the Baptist was a prophet of God but not a psychic who knew the exact height, weight, and built of the Messiah.

How can we offend God?  This is a weighty question.  We know from the Old Testament that God was an angry, revengeful God.  He had not problem punishing those who disobeyed his commands.  Everything from pestilence to starvation and death.  God expected obedience from his chosen people.  He appears to be a harsh strict God.  However, Jesus Christ is much different "side" of God.  He is gentle, kind and merciful.  He rarely raises his voice. He even preaches others to love their enemies.  No more "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth!"

There is something refreshing to know that the Jesus loves the poorest of the poor and the lamest of the lame.  He doesn't run away from the sad and the afflicted; the sick and the dying; the outcasts and the sinner.   He welcomes all of these people into his healing and loving arms.

 Even in this day, the Holy Spirit continues the work of healing.  If we do "offend" God in some way, we have the option to confess our sins and receive repentance.  No more worry about an lightening bolt striking us down if we sin!

Let us all go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is the way, truth and light!  He shows us the way to salvation with his love and mercy.

Saint John the Cross, Pray for Us!

-J.