Answering the Doubt of John the Baptist

Answering the Doubt of John the Baptist
Advent 3; Matthew 11:2-11
Imprisoned, John sends Jesus word of doubt.
“Are you in truth the one who is to come?”
Must he with death in sight be left without
both call and vision that are his life’s sum?
Says Jesus: “Tell John what you see and hear:
the blind receive their sight, the lame can walk,
the dead are raised, and lepers’ skin made clear.
Good news is here. Take no offense, nor baulk,
for you are blessed, a prophet and much more,
God’s messenger who has prepared the way.
No-one on earth is greater, that is sure;
yet greater still are those among the least
who gather in God’s kingdom for the feast.
	Barbara Messner 13/11/2022