Daily Readings - Sun Dec 11 2022
Matthew
2Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,3And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?4Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:5The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.6And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.7And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?8But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.9But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.10For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.11Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Sermon
In today's Gospel, we encounter a poignant moment where John the Baptist, imprisoned and uncertain, sends his disciples to inquire if Jesus is the Messiah they await. Jesus responds by highlighting the miracles He performs, affirming His divine mission. He then praises John as more than a prophet, yet humbly notes that even the least in the kingdom of heaven surpasses John. This passage invites us to reflect on doubt, faith, and our place in God's plan.
John's question to Jesus reveals a human moment of doubt, a feeling we all experience. Yet, Jesus' response is not one of rebuke but of reassurance, pointing to the signs of His ministry as evidence of His identity. This teaches us that in our times of uncertainty, we can find comfort in the signs of God's presence around us. John, though great, remained humble, recognizing his role as a precursor to Christ, reminding us to trust in God's larger plan.
In our daily lives, we face moments of doubt, but like John, we can find strength in faith. Jesus' miracles remind us to look for God's work in our world. The moral lesson here is one of trust and humility—trusting in God's plan even when uncertain and recognizing our place within His grand narrative. Let us embrace our roles with humility, trusting that even the smallest among us can be great in God's eyes.