Are You the One?

A Reflection for the Third Sunday of Advent (Year A)

Rev. Bobby Musengwa

Transitional General Presbyter

Even John the Baptist had doubts. Yes, he did.

Think about that for a moment. John — the fearless prophet who stood waist-deep in the Jordan, who called out Herod, who pointed directly at Jesus and declared, "Behold, the Lamb of God" — even John wondered if he'd gotten it right. 

From the darkness of Herod's prison, he sent his disciples with a question that cuts to the bone: "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?"

When we doubt — and we will — we're in good company.

I am quite sure that when I wake up tomorrow morning, I will be tempted to shred this reflection, as I have been tempted every morning of publication ever since I started writing it. I have always thought it was not good enough. The doubt of never good enough looms and torments us persistently.

Indeed, when we doubt — as we always will — we're in good company.

Jesus's response to John’s doubt, and ours, is remarkable. He doesn't offer theological arguments or proof texts. He doesn't defend his credentials or rebuke John's question. 

Instead, he says simply: "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them."

Look at the evidence. Trust the fruit.

This Advent season, many in our communities are asking John's question in their own ways. After years of compounding crises — from inflation and flooding, from immigration raids to cuts in SNAP benefits, from government shutdown to looming changes in healthcare access — people are struggling, really struggling. 

Too many of our neighbors are working hard and are still unable to afford necessities. They are falling behind, wondering where their next meal will come from. They are uncertain about the future.

And if we're honest, sometimes we share John's doubt. We look at the magnitude of need around us and wonder: Is this faith really making a difference? Are our efforts enough? Should we be looking for something else, some other solution? Where is the balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole?

But here's what I witnessed recently that shook me out of that spiral: Mission Presbytery staff volunteered at the San Antonio Food Bank. Many of you have been volunteering in various local organizations, which help your neighbors. We celebrate that outreach and missional focus.

At the San Antonio Food Bank, we packed bags with fresh, healthy produce — so much abundance for families who needed it. 

And we weren't alone. We saw volunteer after volunteer show up with genuine enthusiasm, eager to fill those bags, eager to serve.

That's when it hit me: the antidote to apathy and discouragement is action. Not just any action, but action taken on behalf of others. Action that embodies resurrection hope.

At Mission Presbytery, the evidence of Christ's presence isn't found primarily in our institutional strength or our strategic plans. 

It's found in transformation. In communities fed. In strangers welcomed. In hope rekindled one person, one family at a time.

When doubt creeps in — when the challenges seem too great and our efforts too small — the Spirit invites us to do what Jesus told John's disciples to do: 

Look at what's already being made new. Where is healing happening? Where is good news reaching the forgotten? Where are blind eyes being opened and heavy burdens being lifted? 

We could throw up our hands and declare the problems too vast to solve. We could retreat into despair or cynicism. 

But if we do that, we miss the opportunity to participate in God's transformation of our community. We miss the chance to be the evidence that someone else needs to see.

This Advent, as we wait for Christ's coming, may we actively seek creative ways to serve our neighbors.

In volunteering at a food bank, in advocating for the vulnerable, in showing up with enthusiasm and hope, in gathering joyfully to worship — in these acts, we provide a desperately needed charge to our depleting reservoirs of hope. 

And perhaps more importantly, we become part of the answer to someone else's doubt.

When someone asks, "Is God really at work in this world?" let them look at what we hear and see: the hungry being fed, the isolated being welcomed, the discouraged being renewed.

Trust the fruit. The Spirit is at work. And by God's grace, we get to be part of it.

Reflect: Where do you see signs of God's kingdom or reign breaking through right now? Where might you add your hands to that work?

Prayer: Christ our hope, when doubt creeps in, show us your work among us. Give us eyes to see the transformation already happening and courage to join in. Lead us to actively participate in your mission in our own neighborhoods. Let the evidence of your love strengthen our faith and move our hands to action. This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Incarnate Lord. Amen!