Stumbling Blocks

Gospel: Luke 7: 18-23

We began Advent with the exhortation to prepare the way of the Lord.  Things can often obstruct pathways.  Debris and stumbling blocks can find their way onto the way.  Sometimes those obstructions are there because of natural occurrences.  Other times they are placed there by others, and sometimes we find that we ourselves have placed these barriers in the way.  Regardless of how they got there, these obstacles must be removed so that the way can be clear for the Lord to come into our lives.

Jesus tells John's disciples the works of mercy that are the defining feature of the coming Messiah and the marks of Jesus' own ministry: the blind see, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, lepers are cleansed, the poor receive Good News.  People will find the works of mercy to be a stumbling block, for they see the role of the Messiah as a political one, a militaristic image wielding power and judgment.  But that is not at all the ministry of Jesus.  Here we find a stumbling block that must be removed.

John the Baptist came with the ministry of reconciliation.  Jesus comes to bring the ministry of mercy.  Authentic repentance necessarily brings with it a life of mercy offered for others: forgiving the sins of others, healing others, dispelling demons from people's lives.  Once we embrace a life of mercy all obstacles and stumbling blocks are removed from our lives.  The way is clear for Love to come and rule our lives.