Why Do We Look For Another?

14 Dec

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.”  (Lk 7:18b-23)

John the Baptist was, in the eyes of many, the greatest prophet that had ever arisen.  He was the immediate precursor of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.  He was also a kinsman of Jesus.  He was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth.  Maybe he came by his uncertainly honestly.  If you remember, Zechariah had trouble believing that his wife would become pregnant when an angel announced it to him and he was struck mute until his child was born.

John felt a calling by God to proclaim a baptism of repentance.  He was preparing the way for the Messiah.  John, the cousin of Jesus, say Him regularly.  He knew of Jesus’ reputation.  Could Jesus really be “the one”?  John wanted to make sure which was why he sent his followers to Jesus with the question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”

We often look all around us for guidance.  We look for clues as to what we should be doing whether it be at home, at school, at work, or wherever we find ourselves at the present moment.  We do our best to decipher those clues so that we can make the best decision possible.

Sometimes, even when we have the clearest clues possible, we second-guess ourselves.  “Is this really the right thing?”  “Should I really do that?”  “Should I really say this?”  We bog ourselves down with question after question.

We do that in our faith lives as well.  God speaks to us in a dream, through another person, or in an experience that we have.  We are “sure” that it was God speaking to us and yet we say to Him in one way or another, “Was that really you?  Would you confirm that message?”

Sometimes we ask God to confirm the confirmation message as well.  That is because we are too busy viewing everything through the eyes of the world rather than through the eyes of faith.

So, let me help you out today:

  • Is He the one who is to come?  Yes.
  • Should we listen to Him rather than to ourselves?  Yes.
  • Will He always be there to help us in our need?  Yes.

FAITH ACTION:  In your prayer this day, ask God to give you the grace to keep your eyes fixed firmly on Him so that you do not stray.