Rochester, MN UCC - "Blessed is Anyone Who Takes No Offense at Me" - Matthew 11:2-11

In our reading from Matthew 11:2-11, Jesus describes his ministry as one of liberation, healing, and joy. When John the Baptist sends disciples to ask Jesus if he is indeed the one that they have been waiting for, Jesus tells them to tell John what they see- “the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised and the poor have good new brought to them.” This list of good things coming to those in need sounds like terrific news. Yet, for some reason, Jesus follows up this list with an odd line- “And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” Why would someone take offense at somebody who brings good news to the poor?

When I was a kid getting chicken-pox was a rite of passage; everyone got it and suffered through it and moved on. About 10 years ago on a youth group trip some of the kids informed me that they’d never had chicken pox- that there is now a vaccine, so no one gets it anymore. My first reaction to hearing this was to think how unfair it was. I had to suffer through the chicken pox, but these kids got to skip right over it. I was so bitter about someone else not having to suffer as I had that I was actually upset by this obvious good news. Healing had come to thousands and I was offended by it.

As we celebrate the gift of joy this third Sunday of Advent it’s a good time to remember that we are called to rejoice with those who are rejoicing. We are called to celebrate the gospel, the good news that God is bringing to the poor, the sick, and the oppressed. To do so, we may have to let go of our commitment to “fairness.” We might have to let go of any bitterness we hold about the times when we struggled. If we can do these things, then we have the opportunity to celebrate the working of God in our world; then we can respond with joy to the good news of God’s kingdom. May God grant us healing for our bitterness. May God grant us a commitment to grace over fairness. And may God guide us into hopeful anticipation of Christ’s coming, that we might rejoice with all who welcome it as good news. Amen.

Pastor Andrew Greenhaw