“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”
Friday, 9th December 2016,
Second Week of Advent
Is 48:17-19;
Ps 1:1-4, 6;
Mt 11:16-19
ALL WELCOME AT JESUS’ TABLE
The Jesus of Scripture sat at the table of fellowship with thieves and prostitutes, the broken and poor, the widowed and divorced, the orphan and despised. Matthew and Zacchaeus, both despicable traitors and tax collectors, came to know God through Jesus and joined Him in mission. More than one “prostitute” came to find dignity and inner beauty through Jesus, and joined Him in mission. The poor found a different kind of wealth in Jesus and joined Him in mission. A divorced woman found wholeness in Jesus and joined Him in mission. More than one widow found security in Jesus and joined Him in mission. Those broken by disease and disability, some of whom were regarded as being a curse or punishment due to their own sin, found healing in Jesus and joined Him in mission. A thief on the cross had his eternity changed, joining Him in paradise. Jesus ate, drank, laughed with, and loved the worst of society at the table. In fact he still loves them. In Jesus we are reminded that it is an embracing-love that prepares the heart for conviction, not accusation; an embracing-love stirs a desire for change, not judgment.
Jesus points out that both He and John the Baptist were ridiculed and falsely accused of being sinful. John, for example, fasted much, which was quite virtuous. But the Pharisees interpreted it as the work of the devil. Jesus spent time at many people’s homes as a guest and He was accused of being a glutton and drunkard. When someone gives into calumny, they often look at some virtue in another and twist it some way so as to deceive and misrepresent the truth. And it is often done out of envy or jealousy. This sad situation should be an opportunity for each of us to look at how honest we are in our relations with one another.
Let us reflect today, upon the way you look at others around you and, especially, how you speak about them. If you see yourself falling into any form of jealousy or envy, surrender it over to our merciful God so that it doesn’t turn into the ugly sin of calumny.
Prayer: Lord, help me to see others in the light of humility and truth. Help me to see their goodness and virtue and to rejoice in it. Strip from me any falsity and calumny. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.