“Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” …”Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk…the poor have the good news preached to them.” (Matthew 11)

John the Baptist was in prison, surely downcast at his own plight, but suddenly hopeful when he heard the report of what Jesus was accomplishing in Galilee. Therefore, he sends messengers to verify if Jesus was truly the promised one. Jesus reports that he only has to consider the reports that he has already heard about Jesus and he will know that someone more than a prophet is around.

Like John, we often focus on the negative, the bad things that are happening to us or around us. Today we can take comfort in the same words of Scripture. We can also look around at what God is accomplishing in our own lives, in the church, in our parish, and the good that is being done by many people of good will. When we see good things being done, whether the little miracles that take place in our lives, or the good that people do for others here in our parish, in our families, and even in larger society, it can renew our hope in God and in humanity. May we continue to make the miracle of Christmas happen for others by our works of love.