Confirmation
There comes a time when we need to confirm our faith.
When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “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. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” - Matthew 11:2-11
Today's Gospel reading is about setting the record straight. Are you who I think you are? Is this what is seems to be? Am I on the right track?
Even when some things are pointed out to us and made clear, we may still have doubts and fears. That's normal. Look at John. He knew he was heralding in the Messiah, and he heard this may be the one, but he had to be certain. This was his mission in life, and still he needed confirmation.
We set aside a time in our church life to confirm our faith. For many it happens when we are young, perhaps too young to know anything about serious doubts and fears, but we can reaffirm our faith at any time. It helps to do that.
Like John, we should ask questions and get answers. It is important to know what we truly believe and not just follow along, like some who went into the wilderness to see what was so strange about this man.
The Gospel reading shows us that what we see and hear matters to what we believe. So, we should listen and question what we doubt, or we will be led to believe something false.
This is what we do in Bible Study each week. We challenge what we hear, what we see, what we know.
And in the end, we discover a deeper meaning to our faith.
More to come...