Jesus' reply to John's question is the unfolding of his mission statement in Luke chapter 4. It is the manifesto of the Kingdom of God or the Reign of God which is characterized by God's favour turned towards the poor. The significance of the divine interventions, through the deeds of Jesus in the presence of the disciples, His own and those of John's, is summed up in the words, "the poor have the good news preached to them." Blessed are they who are not scandalized by God's preferential stance towards the poor. The poor will be the beneficiaries and recipients of the good news of God's coming (Lk. 6:20).

Today, is the goodness and compassion of God towards those who suffer being made manifest by the Church through what she does? Through what we, the Church do? The Church becomes a credible sign of the continuation of Jesus' ministry in so far as she too can say, "hear and see", her teaching and above all through her works of compassion. The Church is a sign of God's presence on earth. Is she so ambiguous that people are unable to recognize on her the face of the Messiah? Isn't this what we should be focusing on as we prepare for the coming of the Messiah at Christmas?