The Third Finding of the Precious Head of the Holy, Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John
2 Corinthians 4:6-15; Matthew 11:2-15
Read Matthew 11:2-15
Today’s reading begins with John the Baptist in prison sending his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are You the One who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” (Mt. 12:2). It seems very odd that John is asking this question since previously in the Gospel of Matthew when Jesus went to be baptized, “John would have prevented Him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?’” (Mt. 3:14). At the time of Christ’s baptism, it seems clear that John already knew Who Christ is. The Church Fathers understand that John asks this question in today’s reading in order to guide his own disciples to Jesus, and in return, even John’s own faith was strengthened by Jesus’ response. When Jesus told John’s disciples to “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them” (Mt. 11:4-5), Jesus is listing such signs that the prophet Isaiah indicated would accompany the coming of the Messiah (Is. 61). For those who might have thought that John the Baptist was the Messiah, today’s reading makes it clear that the foretold Messiah is actually Jesus. Although Christ has ascended into heaven, we see that He is still at work in the world through His Church. Miracles still happen, even today. Having celebrated the Feast of Pentecost this Sunday, we know that God is with us in a new, intimate way and empowers us to carry out His messianic work in the world.