16-Dec-15

Gospel LK 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.”
Reflection:
"At that time......"
John the Baptist was in a jail cell. The despot King Herod had thrown him in prison for challenging his marriage to his brother's wife.
Jesus was in Galilee going about His works of mercy, healing the sick and granting sight to the blind.
"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?'"
Perhaps John was hoping for Jesus to answer, "My Father's is mounting an army of angels to vanquish the Roman occupiers of Israel and tear down the jail that holds you."
But, in reply to John's question of whether He is "the one," Jesus says what He is doing, "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."
In other words, Jesus tells John's disciples that through His actions, the love and mercy of God is on the march.
Jesus' message to John the Baptist two thousand years ago remains the same for those of us who follow Christ today.
We are here to carry on His work and to show mercy through our concern and acts of kindness. We are here, "To bring the love and hope of Jesus Christ to those we serve."
"Mercy is the second name of love." Pope Francis