Reading 1
Is 45:6b-8, 18, 21b-25
I am the LORD, there is no other;
I form the light, and create the darkness,
I make well-being and create woe;
I, the LORD, do all these things.
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.
For thus says the LORD,
The creator of the heavens,
who is God,
The designer and maker of the earth
who established it,
Not creating it to be a waste,
but designing it be lived in:
I am the LORD, and there is no other.
Who announced this from the beginning
and foretold it from of old?
Was it not I, the LORD,
besides whom there is no other God?
There is no just and saving God but me.
Turn to me and be safe,
all you ends of the earth,
for I am God; there is no other!
By myself I swear,
uttering my just decree
and my unalterable word:
To me every knee shall bend;
by me every tongue shall swear,
Saying, “Only in the LORD
are just deeds and power.
Before him in shame shall come
all who vent their anger against him.
In the LORD shall be the vindication and the glory
of all the descendants of Israel.”
Gospel
Lk 7:18b-23
At that time,
John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask,
“Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”
When the men came to the Lord, they said,
“John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask,
‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’”
At that time Jesus cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits;
he also granted sight to many who were blind.
And Jesus said to them in reply,
“Go and tell John what you have seen and heard:
the blind regain their sight,
the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear, the dead are raised,
the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”
Meditation: Luke 7:18-23
Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another? (Luke 7:19)
This may seem like a strange question to come from John the Baptist, especially since his very mission was to prepare the way for Jesus. But there may have been a good reason for it. John may have expected Jesus to be more like him—a radical zealot who preached a message of repentance. But instead of going into the desert and preaching against Herod, Jesus was traveling throughout the towns and cities, healing people and teaching them to love one another. Was he really the One who would bring a baptism of fire, and convict sinners to change their ways?
Jesus’ answer made it clear that he had come as a merciful Savior, not a stern judge. He was the redeemer who would “bring glad tidings to the lowly” and “heal the brokenhearted” (Isaiah 61:1). He wanted them to know that God was not dwelling on their sins—he had a much bigger agenda! Of course, he wanted to forgive them, but he also wanted to bring them into a living relationship with him so that they could know the freedom of being his children.
Today, people are still asking if Jesus is really the one who is to come—and we are the ones they’re asking! They are looking to us to see if Jesus is compassionate and merciful. They’re looking to us to see if he is peaceful and gentle. Perhaps they have not known much compassion in their lives. Perhaps someone in the church has hurt them, whether intentionally or not. We can show them a different face of God.
Your witness can have a special impact during this time of year. During this season, people almost instinctively think about heaven, angels, and even Jesus. If they know that you believe in Christ, if they can tell that you have a relationship with him, half of the work is already done. The testimony of your life will soften their hearts and open them up to the words you speak. Just as Jesus showed John, you can show your neighbors that they don’t have to wait for someone else. Jesus really is the Messiah. He really can heal and forgive and save.
“Jesus, free me from self-consciousness so that I can share your love with those who are searching for you.”
No comments:
Post a Comment