Hey everyone. Welcome to another episode of Logical Bible Study where we do a look at the gospel reading

from today's Mass. So we're trying to give you the tools to have a deeper understanding

of the literal sense of the text. The church's teaching is that if you want to understand the Bible

and you're looking at a specific text, you need to start with the literal sense. So today's reading

you would hear at Mass is Matthew 11 verses 2 to 11. So here's the text we'll look at. John in his prison

had heard what Christ was doing and he sent his disciples to ask him, are you the one who is to come

or have we got to wait for someone else? Jesus answered, go back and tell John what you hear and see. The blind see again,

and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf here, and the dead are raised to life,

and the good news is proclaimed to the poor, and happy is the man who does not lose faith in me.

As the messages were leaving, Jesus began to talk to the people about John.

What did you go out into the wilderness to see?

A reed swaying in the breeze?

No.

Then what did you go out to see?

A man wearing fine clothes?

No, those who wear fine clothes are to be found in palaces. Then what did you go out for? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet.

He is the one of whom scripture says, look, I am going to send my messenger before you.

He will prepare your way before you.

I tell you solemnly, of all the children born of women,

a greater than John the Baptist has never been seen.

Yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is.

So an interesting passage and one that a lot of people struggle with, particularly that last part there about the kingdom of heaven and John being the last and the greatest.

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