Gospel according to Saint Matthew 11,2-11
When John the Baptist heard in prison about the activities of Christ, he sent a message by his disciples, asking him: «Are you the one who is to come or should we expect someone else?». Jesus answered them, «Go back and report to John what you hear and see: the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead are brought back to life and good news is reaching the poor. And how fortunate is the one who does not take offense at me».
As the messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, «When you went out to the desert, what did you expect to see? A reed swept by the wind? What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? People who wear fine clothes live in palaces. What did you actually go out to see? A proph-et? Yes, indeed, and even more than a prophet. He is the man of whom Scripture says: ‘I send my messenger ahead of you to prepare the way before you’. I tell you this: no one greater than John the Baptist has come forward among the sons of women, and yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he».
