Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11
When John the
Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to
Jesus with this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look
for another?” Jesus said to them
in reply, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their
sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and
the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who
takes no offense at me.”
As they were going
off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out to the
desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone
dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then
why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
This is the one about whom it is written: Behold, I am sending my messenger
ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you. Amen, I say to you, among
those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the
least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
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Reflection:
There’s a lot of
second guessing as to why did John (while in prison) sent his followers to
Jesus to ask Him if he is the one. Perhaps, John wanted Jesus to help him to
bolt out of prison. Perhaps, John wanted to be assured of Jesus’ support
because to begin with he baptized Jesus in the river Jordan (Matthew 3:13).
Jesus affirmed the
question by saying to John’s followers: “Go and tell John what you hear and
see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf
hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
Perhaps, the
disciples of John were expecting Jesus to say, let us go to John. And reassure
him of my support in whatever way possible, but he did not. Jesus then
said: “Blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” Possibly to say to
John’s followers, don’t get disappointed if I will not help John in his most
difficult time.
We may also have
this feeling of being abandoned by Jesus. And we may also have questions like:
Why is this happening to me and my family considering that I’m following
you? Why am I still poor and in
difficult predicament when I am faithfully following you? We may have countless whys before God; we may
have this emotion of being abandoned by Jesus in our most difficult time as well.
So what must we do
if we are in this situation? We must continue to follow Jesus we must continue
to be faithful to Him even if He seems to be far and unconcerned with us. We
must not veer away from Jesus and not blame Him for whatever difficulties we
are in.
To follow Jesus or
to always pray to Jesus is not an assurance that we would be free from trials
and persecutions. And John is the best evidence of this for the reason that
John humbly and faithfully followed Jesus. Yet he was persecuted, imprisoned
and beheaded.
Will you still
follow Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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