Expectations

Expectations can be deadly.

Among people of Jesus' day, many different expectations existed about the Messiah and what he would bring.  Some expected a prophet like Moses, leading the people from slavery and bringing God's final laws to them.  Some expected a great military leader like David, someone to conquer the Romans, and bring Israel back to its former glory.  John the Baptist expected the Messiah to bring final judgment, laying ax to the root of the tree, burning the chaff in unquenchable fire.

No one expected Jesus.  They expected laws; they got beatitudes.  They expected conquest, they got humility.  They expected vengeance and human justice; they got love and divine mercy.  They expected vindication; they got reconciliation.  They expected pain; they got healing.

Some of those around Jesus let their pride – their certainty as to what they needed – keep them from changing their expectations.  They were blind to Jesus' messiahship, deaf to Jesus' teachings, and stumbled over Jesus' divinity.

But have things changed that much in two thousand years?  As Christmas nears, what do we expect?

Do I expect to find true joy in the presents under the tree or will I look to the presence of God in my heart?

Do I expect to vindicate myself with gossip and sarcasm, or will my prayers heal and reconcile me with others?

Do we expect to protect ourselves and defeat our enemies with bombs and bullets or will we build peace with the compassion of Jesus and with God's divine justice?

Do we expect to eliminate evil by destroying life with the executioner's chair or will we conquer evil with good, seeing the image and goodness of God within ourselves and within every other person?

As was true two thousand years ago, expectations can determine how we accept Jesus.  We can be blind, we can be deaf, or we can be lame – if we wish.  Or, we can ask God to open our eyes that we may see Jesus as our divine savior and Lord, to open our ears that we may hear Jesus' words of truth and salvation, and open our hearts that we might have the courage and strength to walk with Jesus, to love with Jesus, building up the kingdom, on earth as it is in heaven.