Word of Mouth

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, December 11th, 2022:
Third Sunday of Advent

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Matthew
11.2-11

When John the Baptist heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples who said to Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”

Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.”

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A Prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a Prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’

“Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

We’ve all seen and heard these conversations:

“Does anyone know a good electrician?”
“Oh, my massage therapist is amazing … you should go!”
“Have you been to that new restaurant? It’s delicious.”

I’ve tried many recommendations in search of the best of many things in life and, in the process, found help where I needed it or had wonderful experiences. Of course, I’m more likely to take advice or direction from someone I trust and, even then, my personal need has to match the recommendation, otherwise it doesn’t feel very useful to me.

In His direction to the crowds, Jesus says: “Go and tell John what you hear and see .…”

Fundamentally, who is Jesus? Why have people throughout the ages given up their physical freedom, their possessions, their livelihood, even their actual lives, for Him? It seems as if a lot of people have had a personal need that matched the recommendation. 

We see here in Matthew’s Gospel that people followed Jesus because they saw and heard things that were evidence to them of His power, His lordship, and His love — healings, miracles — and they knew that these things were and are possible only if He was and is God. 

These things still happen today, as we, the Church, act as His hands and feet in this broken world. I have seen it with my own eyes, and heard the stories, and I want to tell you about

…seeing the least in the kingdom being treated with the dignity they deserve…

…physical, spiritual and mental healing…

…restoration, reconciliation and redemption…

This Advent, not only do we need to prepare our own hearts for Jesus, but we can play a role in preparing the hearts of others for Jesus. Let all that we see and hear in His name be conveyed to others as a beacon of hope for them, a foreshadowing of Jesus, who was and is and ever shall be.

For what it’s worth to you, you can take it from me: Jesus is the BEST. He’s perhaps not going to win you any popularity contests or many of the other things our humanity or our culture holds dear. But He can and will bring you peace — and that, my friends, is priceless. It’s what I hear and see.




Lindsay Elford

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