Sacred Scripture
Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in the 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.” (Matthew 11: 16-19)
Reflection
I don’t think that my heart gives Jesus all the praise that he warrants. Sadly, I am not alone. Too often we are not fulfilled, too often we harbor complaints. Too often we dare to blame Christ for the things that disturb us.
God comes to our encounter, but man —especially the present-day man— hides out from Him. Pope Benedict XVI said, “Jesus is the God-who-comes” and I think that we look like “the-man-who-goes away”:
Why do we run away? Because of our lack of meekness. John the Baptist recommended us to “dwindle”. And the Church reminds us so, every time the Advent comes. We must, become as little children to be able to understand and receive the “Little God”. He appears in front of us with the humility of his swaddling-clothes.
Too often, we project a disappointing image before God when we conceal ourselves from Him with excuses. At the dawn of humanity, Adam blamed Eve; Eve blamed the snake…, after all the centuries gone by, we remain just the same.
Jesus-God, however, is coming: in the cold and the poverty of Bethlehem and he neither admonishes nor rebukes us. On the contrary! He begins to load his small shoulders with the weight of all our faults. Should we, then, be afraid of Him? Will our apologies be truly worth before this “Little-God”? Again, I refer to Pope Benedict XVI when he said:” God’s sign is the Baby, we learn to live with him and to practice with him that humility of renunciation that belongs to the very essence of love”. The proper response to God’s constant action in our lives will only be possible if we can discern that it is indeed God who is acting –– that it is God who is “playing the flute for us” or “singing a dirge for us.” We need the eyes of faith. A habitual interior attitude of faith and trust in God allows us to live with great peace and purpose.
Prayer of The Day
Thank you, Jesus, for this opportunity to spend time with you in prayer. Let it be my motivation for the day and bring me to live a greater spirit of faith in you and the mission you have entrusted me. How much it would help me to consider my actions, the actions of others and your actions under the light of your love and good will. I do believe that you permit everything that happens in my life for the sake of bringing about a greater good, but Lord, increase my faith.
Daily Note
The proper response to God’s constant action in our lives will only be possible if we can discern that it is indeed God who is acting –– that it is God who is “playing the flute for us” or “singing a dirge for us.” We need the eyes of faith. A habitual interior attitude of faith and trust in God allows us to live with great peace and purpose.
