Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”

Gospel Reading: Luke 7:18b-23

At that time, John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”  When the men came to the Lord, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’” At that time Jesus cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits; he also granted sight to many who were blind.  And Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.  And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

Today’s Gospel reading presents us with a rather interesting encounter with Christ.  John the Baptist sends two of his disciples to ask Jesus if He is the Messiah.  When asked, Jesus could have simply answered the question yes.  But instead He says, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.”  How many times do we ask ourselves, “Is there really a God?” or “Did Christ really exist?”  This is the same question which John the Baptist asked.  So why does Jesus answer the question like he does?  It’s simple – seeing is believing.  Christ knows that being a witness to the signs is a much better testimony to His arrival than anything else.  They witnessed Him curing the sick and giving sight to the blind.  Do they not believe what they have seen with their own eyes?  Are they blind to His miracles or deaf  to His words.  He gave life to the dead.  He tells them to take this back to John as the answer to his question.  During Advent, you too are asked to testify to His majesty.  You must be a witness to Christ and testify that He is the Messiah.  You are called to be a witness to his miracles and his revelation.  You are called to be a witness to others.  You do this by being his hands and his feet and going out into the community and helping those that are less fortunate.  When you reach out your hands, you cure the blind and the deaf and bring life to those who are dead.  It is through your actions that others will see Christ and hear his word.  They will come to life in the gospel of love.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Jesus, Open my eyes and my ears so that I may know you.

By your words, we know that you are the Messiah who freed us from our sins.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon