This is the Sunday when we rejoice! Jesus is near! We light the rose candle and the priest wears rose vestments to remind us the we are to rejoice because Jesus is coming!
John the Baptist has been preparing the way of the Lord. He pointed him out to his disciples and Andrew and John had left to follow Jesus. Then, we hear little about John the Baptist; he continued in his prophetic role. Herod Antepas has put him in prison because John had rebuked Herod in public for his adulterous and incestuous marriage with Herodias.
In today's Gospel John sends his disciples to Jesus to ask: "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?"
Jesus said to them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, leapers 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."
As John's disciples start off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. He asks them why they went to see him and then says, "to see a prophet. Yes, I tell you and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: 'Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you."
Some think that John was full of doubts and sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the one; I think he sent his disciples so they would see for themselves that Jesus was the one. John is always preparing the way of the Lord and is a great Advent figure. We, too, are called to be prophets and to prepare the way of the Lord!
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