Jesus and John the Baptist

December 15, Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent
Daily Readings: Isaiah 45:6c-8, 21c-25 & Luke 7: 18-23

The first reading speaks about God, who is our only Lord. There is no other Lord. God formed the light and created the darkness. Light and darkness come from God. God created everything on earth.

The gospel account of Luke narrates about Jesus and John the Baptist. John the Baptist called his two disciples and sent them to Jesus to ask whether He was a messiah or not. In his reply, Jesus said to the two disciples to go back and tell John what they had seen and heard.

The two disciples were witnesses to John the Baptist because they saw what Jesus did.

John the Baptist firstly heard about Jesus. But he wanted to know whether Jesus was the one who was to come or not. Hearing is not enough for John. But sight is still needed for him. That is why a writer said, "Nowadays people believe their eyes more than their ears."

Jesus knew very well that sight was necessary for people in His time. Hearing only was insufficient. That is why He told the disciples of John to tell his master what they saw and heard. It is clear that Word alone is not enough in preaching the Gospel. The action also is required because people nowadays believe their eyes more than their ears.

 Once, a man said to a child, "There was a car coming. Go and push against that car. That car would be able to move forward anymore." The child said in reply, "Uncle, show me first." It happened in my village.

As Christians, we are obliged to preach the good news of Jesus in Word and saying goes, "Action speaks louder than the word." Let us live and preach the Gospel in both Word and action and only then, we will be called true followers of Jesus.