Matthew 11:2-11

Meditatio (Reflecting)

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.

Oratio (Responding)

The prophecy of Isaiah speaks of directly of these miracles. Jesus is telling John’s disciples directly that He is the one that Isaiah spoke of. But the more troubling thing that I wonder about, is why did John ask if there was to be another. There are several theories. Some say that he actually doubted, but to me that seems improbably because he baptized Jesus, and saw the dove descend upon Him and heard the voice of god from the heavens. The idea that John suddenly stopped believing, seems unlikely. But many of the people, including John’s disciples, thought that when the messiah came, that he would bring thunder and justice. Jesus was not doing that and so many believed that he was not the one and that another would come. So I believe that John sent his disciples to Jesus with this loaded question on their lips. No first century Jew would have missed the reference to Isaiah that Jesus made. And the disciples were then forced to confront that Isaiah prophesied this exact moment, because Jesus was performing all of these miracles, and the people were all talking about it, and the evidence of these acts was all around them. So John was not doubting, he was in effect, aware that he was in prison and his time was at an end, and as such he is sending his disciples to Jesus, essentially bequeathing them to Jesus.

Contemplatio (Contemplating)

Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.

Resolutio (Resolving)

Oh lord, help me today to see the signs that you have put in my life, showing your glory. Once I see your signs, give me the courage to follow them. Amen.