“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”
15th December 2017.
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FRIDAY, SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT
Reading 1: Is 48:17-19 The Lord tells us, If only we had been alert to His commandments, our happiness would have been like a river, our integrity like the waves of the sea.
Res. Psalm: Ps 1:1-4, 6 Anyone who follows you, O Lord, will have the light of life. He is like a tree that is planted beside the flowing waters, that yields its fruit in due season.
Gospel: Mt 11:16-19Jesus complains about the fickleness of the Pharisees and scribes. Neither He nor John the Baptist could satisfy a “breed” who insisted on having a Saviour who would satisfy their own perverse ways.
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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 orphans and the 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.
Jesus is characteristically gentle to repentant sinners and to simple, but confused hearers. Yet he knows how to be stern with the intransigent. The point Jesus makes is that, no matter what message his audience heard, nothing satisfied them. They wanted to play their own games with God. It is time to pause halfway through Advent and ask, What do I expect from God? Is he supposed to dance like the children to my tune? Do I make of my Christian vocation just a game with God, playing hard-to-get? God won't indulge us and play our silly, childish games.
Prayer: Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life. Lord as you come near, may we go out to meet You. May we live as You have taught, and be ready to welcome You with burning love and faith. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.