Today's Gospel reading reflects the readings of last Sunday. John the Baptist is now in prison for condemning the adulterous relationship of King Herod. He has been hearing of the work that Jesus is doing. Perhaps John's disciples are upset that this Jesus is taking advantage of their master in prison. In order to reassure them, they are sent to ask Jesus if he is "the one who is to come", in other words, the Messiah. Jesus answers their question by pointing out to them what they can see happening before their very eyes - the healing work of Jesus among the people. He then tells the disciples to go back and tell John what they have seen and heard: the blind seeing again, the lame walking, lepers being cleansed, the deaf hearing, the dead raised to life and the Good News proclaimed to the poor. That is all John needs to hear. These actions were long ago proclaimed by the prophet Isaiah as the work of the Messiah when he came. Jesus Himself, at the beginning of His public life, used this text to announce his identity and mission in the synagogue at Nazareth. We, too, need to hear these words for we, too, in different ways are blind, lame, lepers, deaf and poor. We too need to be raised to new life. Let this Advent season be for each one of us a time of renewal, a time of healing for whatever brokenness there is in our lives. And let us also be agents of healing for others too.