Greetings on this the Friday of the Second Week of Advent
Readings: Is 48:17-19; Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6; Mt 11:16-19
Notes
There is much dispute about the meaning of today’s gospel parable which is the rejection of being happy and rejection of being sad. The parable is inseparable from Jesus’ Testimony to John. Recall from yesterday’s reflection that John is in prison and soon to be beheaded by King Herod and that Jesus’ unique ministry is about to restart the story telling in earnest with The Return of the Twelve and the Feeding of the Five Thousand. It is with good confidence we can think of this parable in the context of those who reject John’s message and those who reject Jesus’ message. They reject John and Jesus by way of their eating and drinking. John, not enough. Jesus, with the wrong people. They do not reject the teachings per se but the messengers of the teachings as the vehicle to reject the teaching.
John and Jesus’ teachings are:
- In those days John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea [and] saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! (MT 3:2).
- After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (MK 1:14-15).
Repent: the Baptist calls for a change of heart and conduct, a turning of one’s life from rebellion to obedience towards God. The kingdom of heaven is at hand: “heaven” (lit., “the heavens”) is a substitute for the name “God” that was avoided by devout Jews of the time out of reverence. The expression “the kingdom of heaven” occurs only in the gospel of Matthew. It means the effective rule of God over his people. In its fullness it includes not only human obedience to God’s word, but the triumph of God over physical evils, supremely over death. In the expectation found in Jewish apocalyptic, the kingdom was to be ushered in by a judgment in which sinners would be condemned and perish, an expectation shared by the Baptist. This was modified in Christian understanding where the kingdom was seen as being established in stages, culminating with the parousia of Jesus (NABRE Commentary on Matthew 3:2).
Repent and Kingdom. This is what they are rejecting. Jesus is clear about their rejection and the truth of wisdom. They are finding ways, endless ways, to accuse and reject the divine will for their lives. In their autonomy they can do that, yes. But wisdom is vindicated by her works.
I, the LORD, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go. [We respond] Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life. [We preach] The Lord will come; go out to meet him! He is the prince of peace.
Reference: http://deacongerrypalermo.blog/2023/12/14/matthew-eulogizes-john/
Summary
We live in an age of What Aboutism (What-about-ism). Every good thing is met with a barrage of counter arguments and rejections and misdirections. It has become a reflex response to use the medical term, an involuntary response or action to a stimulus. This is a very bad way to live. Absent determination to change ones instincts (or mature these instincts) then the world, its colors and contours are lost to the reflexive response of No, ‘What About’ and suspicion. But in the end the one so infected is left empty and with no hope.
Reflection
“The way we consume information leads us to think less and less about more and more. We spend much of our time fixated on secondary questions (usually related to controversial and sensational issues) and very little time exploring the primary questions about our brief stay here on earth.”
― Matthew Kelly, Rediscover Catholicism
Personal Reflection
I am experiencing the joy of the anticipation of the coming of the LORD. Each sign, sight and wonder of the presence of God brings joy. I do not reject the kindness of others by way of suspicion, rather, I accept the kindness as a revelation of their best self expressed in a glorious moment. My recommendation is allow sacred Scripture reveal the LORD. Resist What-about-ism which offers nothing to construct a life.
First Reading
Thus says the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I, the LORD, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go.
Responsorial
Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Gospel Acclamation
The Lord will come; go out to meet him! He is the prince of peace.
Gospel
Jsus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is vindicated by her works.”
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry