Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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John the Baptist was once so sure of the identity of Jesus. He had pointed to him and said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” He could sense the presence of Jesus even from the womb. He leaped within his mother when the unborn Jesus was brought to Elizabeth.
In today’s Gospel, John seems to be a bit doubtful. He had been expecting Jesus to prove himself to be the savior, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world — but John had been sitting in a prison cell ever since his arrest by Herod and salvation didn’t seem to be so clear anymore.
Where was Jesus? What was he doing? What was he waiting for? Why was he taking so long?
John the Baptist sent a few friends to Jesus with a question: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”
Jesus answered the question of John by telling him of the things happening that Isaiah had prophesied as signs of the Kingdom. The blind see. The deaf hear. The lame walk. The poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
Yes, Jesus had begun the work of God to bring salvation to the world.
The kingdom was beginning, but it would take time to be completed.
We sometimes have the same questions that John had. We pray, “Come Lord Jesus,” as he seems to delay. And we wonder, if Jesus took away the sins of the world, why do we still sin? Where is the Kingdom in all of this mess?
The second reading from James gives us some good advice: Have patience. He writes, “See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
We will continue to pray, “Thy Kingdom come”, until it does. Until that day, we wait with patient hope, believing that Jesus will come again at the end of time to bring to fulfillment the Kingdom prepared for all who believe and stay true to his teaching. He is the one! We do not need to look to any other savior.
As for the signs of the Kingdom? They are all around us. The Kingdom shows itself when a child is welcomed into the world and baptized and when sinners are reconciled. We see signs of the Kingdom when the poor are fed, when the sick are tended to, and strangers are welcomed. God, who is love, surrounds us. We just need to look to see — and proclaim — Emmanuel, God is with us.
Have a blessed week everyone.