RBWords

     There are times when one realizes that there are some folks who build their life around dissatisfaction and there is no way to please them.  They are determined to be contrary.  Jesus quotes a jingle of some sort from children that was undoubtedly aimed at such contrary folks.  In this case it was the people who rejected him and John the Baptist but for opposite reasons!  They reject John for fast and abstinence.  They reject Jesus for eating and drinking [with sinners, of course!].  In the end, Jesus points out the wise as the people who accept both John and Jesus.

 

     In matters of faith and morals, a firm conviction and fidelity to the truth of the Gospel and to the tradition and teaching of the church should not lead us to a stubborn attachment to one particular historical manifestation!  The church is more than 2,000 years old!  The Pharisees came into prominence during the period roughly 150 years before Jesus.  Their "traditions" were not ancient.  The same may be said about certain customs in our own church that date from less than 200 years ago, or even to the Council of Trent, less than 500 years ago.  Jesus appeared as something "new" and wisdom should have shown his adversaries where truth was to be found  But they were blinded and no matter what Jesus said, they would oppose it.  We would be wise to know where our own stubbornness may be blinding us to something new from the Holy Spirit!   AMEN