It is right in front of you! You just need to know where to look. This is Jesus’ teaching in today’s Gospel. People search high and low for a new messiah, claiming some emperor, some king, or some president is the one who will save and deliver us. Jesus warns us against these false messiahs: “There will be those who will say to you, ‘Look, there he is,’ or ‘Look, here he is.’ Do not go off, do not run in pursuit.” In a similar way Jesus warns against those who promise a false utopia claiming that they are bringing the Kingdom of God. Jesus tells us not to believe them or follow them:
“The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’”
Jesus tells us the Kingdom of God is right in front of us: “For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.” Where should we look for Jesus the Messiah and his Kingdom that is right in front of us? Jesus tells us in the great judgement scene in Matthew’s Gospel:
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me…. Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers or sisters of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:35-40).
The only true Messiah is Jesus Christ. Jesus teaches us that he is right in front of us in the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the ill and in prison. When we recognize Jesus in them and show them compassion, the Kingdom of God is present in our midst.
These days people seemed to be enticed by conspiracy theories and quick to follow people who claim to be able to lead them to some “promised land” although the promised land they picture is very different from the one promised be God. Jesus might well rephrase his warning by saying: beware of those who post on twitter claiming to be the Messiah or claiming to know the truth while preaching a message of hate, racism, and violence. They are indeed false messiahs. Do not follow them. Jesus’ teaching is clear:
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him…Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:6-9).
Since we know Jesus and his way let’s turn aside from false messiahs, be they political or religious leaders.
Image credit: “Santi Pietro e Paolo (Lecco) – fresco Triumphal entry into Jerusalem” by Kaitu is marked with CC0 1.0.