3RD WEEK OF ADVENT

Blessed is the one who takes no offense at me. 

Admittedly, it can be hard to accept the unexpected. But that’s what many in Jesus’ time were asked to do. There were differing expectations about what the Messiah would be like. Would he be a military figure? Would he be a benevolent king? But Jesus completely upended these expectations. The Messiah was, in fact, a humble carpenter.

Yet there were people who did accept Jesus as the Messiah. Concerning them, Jesus said, “Blessed is the one who takes no offense at me” (Luke 7:23). So how were some able to receive Jesus without being offended by the manner in which he came? They had to surrender their original expectations for the Messiah. Then they were free to receive the faith that allowed them to see Jesus for who he really is.

We too sometimes have to surrender our expectations in order to find the faith to see Jesus working in our lives. It’s the process we engage in when, for example, an adult child has to move back home. We expected that he would be able to live on his own. But when we leave our expectations at the door, we might just be able to recognize Jesus at work drawing us closer to this child. Or maybe we didn’t expect to lose our job but saw God providing for our needs through various offers of help we received.

That’s not to say that working through such scenarios is a simple process or that it’s comfortable. It can get messy at times. Sometimes we don’t know we are carrying expectations until they’re left unmet, and we discover them as a situation unfolds. Sometimes we experience disappointment or loss. But the Lord is still with us, ready to help us navigate the circumstances and show us how he is extending his love to us.

This Advent, if you find that your expectations are unmet or need a major adjustment, surrender them to the Lord. Ask for the grace to believe that he will be working in every situation, whether it’s something you anticipated or not. As you open your heart and mind to see Jesus revealing himself to you, then you will be blessed indeed!

“Jesus, I am so blessed. Help me to be open to all that you are doing in my life.”

Luke 7:18-23
Isaiah 45:6-8, 18, 21-25
Psalm 85:9-14

WORD AMONG US