Living with Doubt

Gospel: Matthew 11: 2-11

John the Baptist is in prison, facing almost certain death.  It is a place where doubt naturally will take place.  In his case, he wonders if Jesus is the actual Messiah.  John needs to be sure that Jesus is the one so that when he dies he can safely entrust his disciples to Jesus.  John's doubt is perfectly understandable.  We need not twist ourselves up into defensive apologetic postures or create plaster saints devoid of humanity who are inaccessible to us.  John had real, legitimate doubt.  As we all do too.

Yet, we have signposts that point to the presence of the Messiah then and now.  The blind now see.  The lame now walk.  The dead are raised.  People are freed from the demons that oppress them.  The hungry are fed.  The thirsty are provided drink.  The naked are clothed.  The homeless are sheltered.  The imprisoned and the outcast are visited and welcomed.  These were the signposts Jesus gave to John's disciples.  These are our signposts today.

When we are looking for the presence of the Lord Jesus in our world today, look to these things.  When we are faced with doubt in our own prisons of confusion and opposition, look for these things in our world.  We will find the presence of the Lord in these activities in the world.  We will bring the presence of Jesus into the world if we set about to do these things for others.  Only in these things will our doubt be erased.