Little children are renowned for asking questions. The younger they are the more they ask. The endless “Whys” can be comical or even frustrating, but that is how they learn about life and the world. When something is puzzling the best way to find out is to ask those questions…no matter how old we are.

Today’s gospel reading is also filled with questions. John the Baptist emerges from the desert. To say the least, he presents a very puzzling picture of someone who is disheveled and downright strange. Above all He is herding people into the Jordan river where they are baptized and at his word, they are preparing for the imminent arrival of the long awaited messiah.

The Jews from Jerusalem are more than curious about this puzzling figure. They send priests and Levites to bombard him with questions: Who are you? Are you the Christ? Are you Elijah? Are you the one who is to come? John simply answers them by quoting Isaiah the Prophet: I am the voice of one crying out in the desert: prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. BU questioning Him they find out who he is and who he isn’t.

So often in the gospel does Jesus tell a parable in response to a question posed to him? Jesus uses these stories to explain Himself and to help the people understand His message.

As we celebrate this Third Sunday in the Advent Season, perhaps it would helpful for us to formulate questions we may have about God and about Jesus’ coming into our world. Who is Jesus for us, today so many years after His appearance at the Jordan River? How do we recognize Him in the present age?

Isaiah the Prophet answers that question very clearly: wherever good news is preached to the poor; where prisoners and the captive find freedom; where the hungry are fed ant the sorrowful comforted. Those are the signs of God’s presence in our midst.

May we never cease to ask questions about God that we may come to know Him more fully throughout our lives.