"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Thursday, 15 December 2016 with Scripture Matthew 11:2-11

"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Thursday, 15 December 2016 with Scripture Matthew 11:2-11
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Matthew 11:2 Meanwhile, Yochanan the Immerser, who had been put in prison, heard what the Messiah had been doing; so he sent a message to him through his talmidim, 3 asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for someone else?” 4 Yeshua answered, “Go and tell Yochanan what you are hearing and seeing — 5 the blind are seeing again, the lame are walking, people with tzara’at are being cleansed, the deaf are hearing,[Matthew 11:5 Isaiah 35:5–6] the dead are being raised,[Matthew 11:5 Isaiah 26:19] the Good News is being told to the poor[Matthew 11:5 Isaiah 61:1] — 6 and how blessed is anyone not offended by me!”
7 As they were leaving, Yeshua began speaking about Yochanan to the crowds: “What did you go out to the desert to see? Reeds swaying in the breeze? 8 No? then what did you go out to see? Someone who was well dressed? Well-dressed people live in kings’ palaces. 9 Nu, so why did you go out? To see a prophet! Yes! and I tell you he’s much more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom the Tanakh says,
‘See, I am sending out my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way before you.’[Matthew 11:10 Malachi 3:1]
11 Yes! I tell you that among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than Yochanan the Immerser! Yet the one who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he![Complete Jewish Bible]
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For the Advent season we are looking back and reflecting on the previous week's readings.
What characterizes our hope? Our waiting and hope is twofold. It is long-term and it is immediate! Waiting for the child in a manger is waiting for the homeless one, waiting for the one who is poor and oppressed. But such a waiting cannot remain inactive! Waiting means giving a home, sharing resources, freeing from oppression. Look, Jesus tells the disciples of John the Baptist, "the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them." Good news is immediate and very specific. Good news engages us here and now. But it is also long-term. Our hope is defined by God, who will make all things whole, who alone will bring all things to fulfillment. God does this on God's own time. Our joy in believing, in hoping, in waiting is knowing that we are part of God's plan. 
Happy are they whose hope is in the Lord. Enkindle in us, O God, that deep down joy that sustains and nourishes us in this journey. Amen.
Dirk G. Lange
Associate Dean, Graduate Theological Education and Fredrik A. Schiotz Chair of Missions and Professor of Worship, Luther Seminary
Matthew 11:2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples
3 and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?"
4 Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see:
5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.
6 And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me."
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind?
8 What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces.
9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
10 This is the one about whom it is written, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.[New Revised Standard Version]
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