“Are You the one who is to come, or shall we wait for another?” is the rather surprising question John the Baptist puts to Jesus. Surprising because after all John had affirmed and heralded Jesus right at the beginning of His ministry. “This is the One…” he passionately announced. But now apparently even John is nursing doubts. And we can understand why. Remember He is in prison. If ever we have had the misfortune to be sentenced to a term in HMP or have had the grim task of visiting a person incarcerated, we will know what forbidding and desolate places they are, very often bringing people to their lowest most desperate point.
A bit like the Coronavirus pandemic we may feel, confining us indoors, severing family and friendship ties, inducing frustration, isolation, loneliness and depression. Indeed as with John this lock-down could be shaking our faith. Where is God in all this? Why doesn’t He clearly act?
Scientific research, the NHS, other caring agencies are wonderful, surely gifts of God given to support us in our hour of need. But in them and beyond is the One who comes to us in Person, opening our deaf ears and blind eyes to hear and appreciate the Good News that is Him. This He is doing for many all around us at this unlikely time.
Matthew 11:1-6
After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
“Lord, open my eyes and ears – to You.”