Gospel Reading: 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.”
SHOULD WE LOOK FOR ANOTHER?
At this point, John the Baptist is in prison, and news comes to him about the activities of Jesus in Galilee. He sends his disciples to check whether Jesus is the one sent by God or not. Otherwise, they will wait for another. They approach Jesus and bring John’s question to him. Jesus does not answer directly, but he asks them to have their eyes and ears wide open and observe what is going on. So many extraordinary things are happening. What Jesus said in his inaugural sermon at Nazareth is now being realized, like the blind regaining their sight, sick people being healed, and the good news proclaimed to the poor. There should be no mistake that indeed Jesus is the Messiah. He is the one who is to come. There is no need to look for another. Jesus’ claim as the Messiah is validated by his miracles and preaching. John should stop worrying. Now he can devote his time in prison praying for the success of the spread of God’s Kingdom. As he clarifies John’s questions, Jesus encourages his listeners to have the same attitude towards him. “Blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” It is a grace of God to be able to accept Jesus and not to seek false sources of joy and salvation.
Can you find someone better than Jesus?
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SOURCE: “366 Days with the Lord,” ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.