What did you go out to see?

Sisters and brothers in Christ, today's Gospel is a continuation of yesterday's, and we hear our Lord Jesus Christ affirm the identity of John the Baptist as the messenger who was to prepare the way for him. In so many ways, our Father in heaven affirms who we are each and every day of our life - his beloved sons and daughters. We have a tendency to forget this and so, in times of joy, we do not give God praise and thanks and, in times of distress, we not only to do turn to Him with faith and hope but we sometimes even blame Him for our woes.

During Diaconal Formation, we were ask to go through the day with an awareness of God's presence in our life - in good times and in bad times, in sickness and in health. When we do this, we will realize that we can experience the joy and peace of God no matter what we are going through because He is present with us always. Yet, many reject God and His love and would rather depend on themselves or, worst, look to Satan to make a deal with the Evil One.

Jesus acknowledges the deep longing that exist in our heart and the extend to which we are willing to go to fill that void. As he asked the crowd, in today's Gospel, he asks us today - "What did you go out to see. . .?" We just need to know if our heart that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the only person who can satisfy the deep yearning of our heart. In the Incarnation, he became one of us so that we can come to him. He is Emmanuel - God with us.

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Gospel of the Day

When the messengers of John the Baptist had left,

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 garments? 

Those who dress luxuriously and live sumptuously

are found in royal palaces. 

Then what did you go out to see? 

A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 

This is the one about whom Scripture says:

    Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,

    he will prepare your way before you.

I tell you,

among those born of women, no one is greater than John;

yet the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.”

(All the people who listened, including the tax collectors,

who were baptized with the baptism of John,

acknowledged the righteousness of God;

but the Pharisees and scholars of the law,

who were not baptized by him,

rejected the plan of God for themselves.)