what did you expect?

One more day, and I should be able to start recording again. I'm almost there. CLICK HERE to listen to today's readings.

In today's gospel, we hear Jesus telling us about John the Baptist. And He keeps asking, "What did you expect to see?" People kept going out to see John the Baptist, and were confused because he didn't match any of their expectations. But that was the problem. They went with preconceived notions... and he was something altogether new.

People have been making that mistake throughout all of history. We keep going to God with our preconceived notions and our expectations of what He should do for us. Give us good paying jobs and make our family healthy and give us a nice car or two and a nice house. That's not too much to ask, is it? So why hasn't He done it already? Doesn't He owe us that?

Well, no. He doesn't. In fact, He has something else entirely in mind for us. It might INCLUDE those things. But He wants a bigger plan for our lives. He wants to make us into saints, and get us ready for eternity. Sometimes that means some suffering. It might mean some poverty. Maybe dealing with some illness. The fact is that we learn a whole lot more about being holy when we are struggling than when we have everything together, don't we?

So when you come to Jesus today, when you seek His face in prayer, lay aside your expectations. And get ready for Him to teach you what really matters. What will make you the person you need to be. What will make you a saint.

God, thanks for always being bigger than our expectations.