What did you go out into the wilderness to look at?

John the Baptist with St. Francis.
Detail from the St. Lucy Altarpiece
by Domenico Veneziano
1445
Now at the Uffizi Gallery, Florence

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, 

he sent word by his disciples and said to him, 

“Are you the one who is to come, 

or are we to wait for another?” 

Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John 

what you hear and see: 

the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, 

the lepers are cleansed, 

the deaf hear, the dead are raised, 

and the poor have good news brought to them. 

And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

As they went away, 

Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: 

“What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? 

A reed shaken by the wind? 

What then did you go out to see? 

Someone dressed in soft robes? 

Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 

What then did you go out to see? A prophet? 

Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 

This is the one about whom it is written,

        ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’ 

“Truly I tell you, 

among those born of women no one has arisen 

greater than John the Baptist; 

yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

Matthew 11:2-11