From the Friars: The Question of St. John the Baptist
In today’s Gospel we hear how St. John The Baptist sent his disciples to ask Jesus: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” (Mt 11:3) This seems hard to reconcile with the clear certitude of the man who had declared, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (Jn 1:29) The Great Forerunner bore witness that the identity of Our Lord was miraculously revealed to him. (Jn 1:32-34) I have read different explanations for this question. For example, it is proposed that it was only the disciples of John that had doubts, so he sent them to Jesus Himself to strengthen their faith. This is certainly a possibility.
The preaching of John the Baptist, by Pieter Brueghel the Elder – Own work. Public Domain.
Another explanation is that the prophet, hearing of Jesus’ works while in prison, was confused because he had expected a different kind of Messiah. St. John’s preaching had been a powerful call to repentance because a day of reckoning was coming soon. This was inspired by the Holy Spirit but he may have misunderstood, thinking that the judgement and punishment would happen immediately when the Christ manifested Himself.
Prophecies are mysterious things and sometimes even the prophets themselves do not understand fully the message that has been given to them. When he heard of the emphasis of Jesus on mercy and His patience with sinners, it may have caused the Baptist to question.
Jesus’ response to the question is a clear reference of the Messianic prophecies of the miracles that would take place upon His coming. The first reading today from Isaiah 35 is a good example. He is pointing out that these things are being fulfilled now, in me, so be at peace. Judgment will have its day. God’s timing is often, if not usually, different from our own. So we must be careful about our expectations because we can easily become disappointed and discouraged.
The Lord calls us to a radical trust and detachment from whatever might happen in this world. Certainly this was the case with the one of whom Jesus said, “among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist.” (Mt 11:11)
Happy Gaudete Sunday!
— Fr. Peter