ACC ~ Matthew 11 v4 - 5

WHAT YOU SEE AND HEAR

ANONYMOUS: And then consider whether their words are at one with their feelings. Now as it first appears, John asks Christ through his disciples, “Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?” [1] John was actually saying to his disciples, “Go, look, and believe; for this is none other than he who was to come.” Similarly, as it first appears, Christ answered John by saying, “Go and tell John this: the blind receive their sight and the deaf hear; and blessed is he who takes no offense at me.” [2] He was actually saying to John’s disciples, “Look here, see and understand that the blind receive their sight and the deaf hear; and you will be blessed if you take no offense at me.”

What then is the meaning of “what you see and hear”? As Luke says, the Lord knew that these disciples would come from John. And at that time, he was preparing a worthy meal for a multitude of guests, good people. In this way, even though Christ was silent, his works would tell of him, [3] for those who had been cured were thanking him. Some said, “We never saw anything like this in Israel.” [4] And others said, “God has visited his people with goodness.” [5] Others said, “Glory be to God, who has given such authority to humans.” [6] And so the disciples of John would feast their eyes and ears, seeing the miracles of healing and hearing the voices of those who thanked him; or at least seeing miracles done by him and hearing his teaching; or at the very least seeing the good health of those who had been sick and hearing the testimony of those from whom demons had been cast out. INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 27. [7]

[1] Mt 11:3.

[2] Mt 11:4-6.

[3] 16.

[4] Mt 9:33; Mk 2:12.

[5] Lk 7:16.

[6] Mt 9:8.

[7] PG 56:772-73.

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