14 December 2016 - what we have seen and heard

 

 [ Today's Readings ]

And Jesus said to them in reply,
“Go and tell John what you have seen and heard

This is what Jesus calls us to do as well. Perhaps we underestimate all we have seen Jesus do in our lives and the lives of others. We have seen the spiritually blind given sight. We know people who were once in the dark. They banged their heads, stubbed their toes, stumbled and tripped and dark alleys that promises happiness but could not provide. Now their eyes are open and they seek the one thing necessary. Maybe we ourselves are these people. We know those who were stuck in life, who seemed trapped by the circumstances, who now experience the freedom and power to move forward. None of us is without sin (see Romans 3:23). All of us are cleansed of the filth of sin that causes us to disintegrate from within. We learn to hear God's word. Our souls are raised from death to new life. We ourselves are the poor who hear the good news.

To see these blessings given, much less to receive them, is not something we should keep to ourselves. We need to tell what we have seen and heard. People who have no faith definitely need to hear this. But we who have some faith need to edify one another with the mighty deeds of God. John the Baptist recognizes in Jesus the lamb of God. But in prison he still benefits from hearing what Jesus is doing in the world. Prison is like a dark night of the soul where the consolations of God seem distant. We can bless people suffering in this way.
Now we can join every knee in bending before the LORD. Now we, the faithless, and those that doubt, can join together, swearing "Only in the LORD are just deeds and power." He alone is the LORD. He wants everyone to know it so that we can seek the one source of life and salvation. Let's help one another to recognize his handiwork.

Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above,
like gentle rain let the skies drop it down.
Let the earth open and salvation bud forth;
let justice also spring up!
I, the LORD, have created this.