December 16

“Go and tell John what you have seen and heard” – Luke 7:22

John the Baptist knew his mission and lived it well. He had devoted his life to pointing people to the Messiah. Perhaps he could sense that his own time and his mission was winding down and, understandably, he needed to know if Jesus was the one and if he had done his job.

Jesus then gives John’s disciples the answer, “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.” The proof was in Jesus’ actions, and John either was missing it, or just couldn’t believe it. Maybe it was just too good to be true.

I’m conscious that I have missed God’s presence many times in my life while I was in angst about my next job or next duty on my mission. I could be out on a rare date with my wife and I will begin to think about when we have to pick up the kids. I could be enjoying a visit from my daughter and I begin to get blue because she will be leaving in a couple of days. God was there in each of those occasions – the precious time with my wife and my daughter. Like John, I was so focused on my mission that I missed it. It was too good to be true.

The birth of our savior will be celebrated in nine days. Let’s not miss one moment of this Advent as we wait and prepare.

Loving God, we pray for the grace to soak in your loving presence in the common, ordinary, unspectacular flow of everyday life.

Amen.

Steve Ruemenapp

To view the full Advent 2020 booklet, click here.

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