Love is the name of that boat

Sisters and brothers in Christ, after Mass on Gaudete Sunday, a parishioner came up and asked me John's summon of his two disciples to ask Jesus "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" was because he did not know or was it for the benefit of his disciples. I shared with her that I believe it was for the benefit of his disciples. It was a way for John the Baptist to ensure that his disciples see and hear from Jesus for themselves all the things he has done so that they may believe. At the same time, perhaps, because of his current predicament - in prison - even John the Baptist needed reassurance himself that Jesus was the one to come.

We all need reassurances and affirmations at some point in our life. We need to know that we are doing the right thing. We need to know that we are loved even when we can be unlovable at times. We need to know that our loved ones will stand by us, especially during trials and tribulations of life. We seek these reassurances and affirmations from loved ones and friends in our life but, most of all, I think we seek them from our Father in heaven. In our human weakness and frailty, we need to know in our mind what our heart already knows - that God had never, has not, and will never abandon us. This is where we can help each other by sharing the Good News of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with others so that they, too, have hope. It is also a good way to remind ourselves that God is love and He loves us and sent His only Begotten Son to die on the Cross for us.

Today is also the Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church. A dear friend of mine shared this quote from Saint John of the Cross with me many years ago and it has given me strength over the years, knowing that we are in the boat together and our Lord Jesus Christ is there with us.

. . .

Gospel of the Day

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.”