Sunday Meditation: Are You the One Who Is to Come?

It’s wonderful when all four readings connect and relate to each other.  I’m not going to pull that together for you.  You’ll have to do that yourself.  Here is the Gospel.

 

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."

~Mt 11:2-11

 

What a strange question: Are you the one who is to come?  Well, anyone would have said yes.  I would have answered sure with full bravado.  But would anyone else have answered the way Jesus answered it?  Actually could anyone else have answered as Jesus did?  Dr. Brant Pitre explains why.

Isn’t it interesting that after Jesus answers if he is the one, he speaks about John the Baptist as being the one who is to come: “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.”