Would you like to see anyone punished for real crimes against humanity?
Whoever sabotaged the Copenhagen summit, people who make money out of drug dependence, pederasts, those behind the use of torture? It is reasonable to hope that appropriate justice will befall those responsible for acts of which we disapprove. But is punishment the right preoccupation for Christians?
Today’s Gospel juxtaposes two verses from Luke’s account of John the Baptist with two describing the Holy Spirit’s descent on Jesus after John baptized him. All the Church intended us to hear today was (a) that John announced his own inferiority to someone who would baptize with “the Holy Spirit and fire” instead of water, and (b) that the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus as a dove, while a celestial voice said “Thou art my Son, my Beloved; on thee my favour rests.”
In other words, the focus of attention has shifted away from John, who seems to have expected the Messiah to bring a “living fire of justice” to “purge the realm” of sinners (to borrow the words of a modern hymn). And yet it is instructive to remember that Luke’s account of John’s activities, quotes from the beautiful passage from Isaiah that was today’s first reading. Isaiah doesn’t sound warnings about God’s wrath; his message is one of comfort to a people who have suffered enough already. Yes, the image that he offers of the coming deity is one of a “Lord of power and might” (as we say in the Sanctus), a Lord whose strong arm subjugates “all things”. But there is a second image: the gentle shepherd who cherishes baby lambs and ewes worn out by giving birth to them.
After fifteen years of carpentry, Jesus must have had strong muscles, but God didn’t tell him to use them on chastising sinners. There was no thunderbolt, only a gentle dove and God’s reassuring voice: “You are my son, I love you, you are special to me.”
How to apply this story in our lives? Not for us the dove and voice from Heaven; but signs of God’s goodwill towards us come in other ways as simple as a smile. Thus can God’s grace be expressed to us through a companion.
How may we serve as conduits of God’s grace to those around us? A smile, a hug, words of encouragement.
What have we received? What can we give?
Helen Dunstan
Dominican Associate |
