Word to the Wise
Friday, December 14, 2018 - 2nd Week of Advent - Fri
[Isa 48:17-19 and Matt 11:16-19]"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 either 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." [Matthew]
DECEMBER 14 ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS, OCD, priest and doctor of the church
There's an old saying, "No good deed goes unpunished!" There are some people whose lives have become so poisoned by misfortune or poor choices that they cannot recognize the good in anyone else. Their criticism is based on what they perceive to be the ideal and how others fail to meet that ideal. They make the perfect the enemy of the good! This kind of criticism can wear down even the best of those who strive in whatever way to reach out to those who may be despised by society.
Jesus points out that nothing he or John the Baptist did would be accepted by those who were determined to criticize them. Of course, the "wisdom" that both John and Jesus brought went to the hearts of their critics and threatened their positions of power. Their lack of mercy was regularly denounced by Jesus. The "wisdom" of living out the baptismal call to serve others is, of course, vividly presented later on in the Gospel According to Matthew in the scene of the Last Judgment (Matt. 25:31-45). We would certainly be wise to read those words, especially in this season, and look for what we can do to make Jesus' promise come to fulfillment by putting skin on our faith and love. AMEN