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3rd
Sunday of Advent, C
December
13, 2016
Mepkin Abbey
John: Not a Disciple ++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
Ever wonder why John didn’t become a recognized disciple of J?
Ø
No question, John respected him, saying he wasn’t even worthy to untie
Js’ sandal strap
Ø
Or that he should be baptized by J & not J by him
Ø
So why didn’t he become a disciple?
Ø
The answer lies in how John & J viewed K/G
John and Kingdom +++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø John has
a very traditional understanding of K/G
Ø Believes
God will come as a judge & separate good from bad, like wheat from chaff in
Gospel
Ø G will reward
good & punish bad, including good & excluding bad from his K
Ø & G
would successfully defeat all enemies of his people & K would be triumphant
& powerful
Jesus and Kingdom +++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø Js’ view
is very different
Ø J begins
by making himself the K & in him we C the difference between John & J’s
approach
Ø No
question J addresses evil & darkness
Ø No
question there’ll B an accounting 4 R behavior
Ø But J’s
way of doing this, the K, would B different
Ø Comes 2 save,
not condemn/invite, not intimidate
Ø J begins
w/ a relationship that’s grounded in understanding & mercy, not judgment
Ø So dines
w/ sinners & includes all, excludes no 1
Ø His way
of being K/G very different from John’s
Ø Little
wonder John doesn’t become a disciple!
Jesus’ mercy or John’s Judgment? +++++++++++
Ø Last
Sunday Francis answered the question people in Gospel ask, “What are we to do?” by launching his yearlong push for a global Catholic Church of
mercy and forgiveness
Ø He did
it by opening the holy door at St. Peter’s & calling for a
Ch that puts mercy before judgment
Ø 2 enter thru Holy Door is 2 rediscover F’s mercy, F who welcomes
all & goes 2 meet all, personally
Ø Perhaps doors 2 R bedrooms can become holy doors & each night
I pass thru it 2 go in2 my room I leave the judgment of a brother behind
Ø Each morn I go thru, take mercy 4 bro in my heart
CONCLUSION ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø That would be the spirit of J and not of John
Ø It would be living this holy year in a very real way
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
