THE IDENTITY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.

WHO IS JOHN THE BAPTIST? 

"Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples  and said to him, "Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?"

 And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: 

 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, 

lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, 

and the dead are raised up, 

and the poor have good news preached to them. 

 And blessed is he who takes no offense at me." 

 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John:

 "What did you go out into the wilderness to behold?

 A reed shaken by the wind? 

 Why then did you go out? To see a man clothed in soft raiment?

 Behold, those who wear soft raiment are in kings' houses. 

 Why then did you go out?

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

 This is he of whom it is written, 'Behold I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way before you.'

  Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; 

yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." (Matthew 11: 2 - 11).

Sunday 14th December of the 3rd Week of Advent. Gaudate - Rejoice Sunday! 

In today's Gospel, the disciples of the Baptist asked Jesus:

Are you Jesus the Messiah or who are you in fact?

The way Jesus answers the question gives us an insight on how to think about ourselves as disciples of Jesus.

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.”

. 

Jesus queried the disciples of John the Baptist:

What have you noticed about Me?

What do I do from day to day?

What do you hear me say?

What type of people hang out with Me?

Let us put the answer of Jesus in a little lullaby:

If you bark, you are a dog.

If you sing, you are a mockingbird.

If you fly, you are an eagle.

Jesus told His adversaries: If you do not believe that I am the Messiah, check out what I do and say and be honest and believe that I am the Genuine Article. By your fruits, you shall be known.

Friends, what do you do to show that you are a follower of Jesus? 

How would your non-Christian neighbor suspect that you are a Christian?

 By the fruits you manifest, you will show who you are. The fruits are the fruits the Holy Spirit produces in us:

Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Modesty, Self-control and Chastity.

Before you think this is impossible, note well that it is the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit to produce these fruits in us. Jesus said: Without Me, you can do absolutely nothing. (Cf John 15: 5).

Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard.

THE CHURCH honors the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in December. 

For the Immaculate Conception Novena, Devotions and Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/12/novena-to-immaculate-conception.html