The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew 11:11-15
Jesus said to the crowds: “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
Encountering Christ
John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way of the Lord. For living up to His mission, Jesus praised Him by saying that no one born of women is greater than he.
By living a radical way of life, John the Baptist was able to attract a large following, and many of his followers also became the disciples of Jesus. In last Sunday’s Gospel – we get a vivid description of John. His dress, camel’s hair secured by a belt, and his diet, wild locusts and honey, reek of the wilderness. John the Baptist drew people by the thousands from all of Israel. The people were hungry for the truth – and they followed John and later Jesus wherever the two went.
Jesus speaks of prophets, those sent to proclaim God’s message. Though they are the bearers of the good news, many people did not listen. Instead, the prophets were persecuted and even killed. John the Baptist Himself was beheaded ordered by Herod the Tetrarch at the whim of his wife’s daughter. Later, Jesus would be tortured and crucified, the most humiliating violent death.
The wilderness symbolizes a time and place of preparation – and a place where battles take place – remember Jesus in the desert in “wilderness” for 40 days. This wilderness is our Advent season. It is a time of learning to trust and grow in faith, a time initiated by the need for repentance for not trusting the Lord’s promise of salvation. Our Advent season is not only a time of preparing for Christ’s coming – “The Incarnation” – the Word made flesh. It is a time of sacrifice – what do we need to get rid of sin in our lives – what do we need to let go of? For some it may be an addiction to certain vices, maybe jealousy for others – it is time for us to prepare to live in the Truth.
Action of the Day
How do we continue in this growth and prepare ourselves in this season of Advent – we follow the words of St. Peter – we live with devotion and holiness. And I would add humility. Here are some practical ways to revitalize your Advent:
- Practice Self-Denial: cut back or cut out excessive use of the internet, the television or your cell phone;
- Receive Communion (the Eucharist) and go to Confession more frequently;
- Dive deeper into your Catholic faith. Watch Catholic YouTube videos or programs, read the Book of Isaiah or any other chapter that speaks to your heart, and listen to good Catholic teachings. These are solid resources to search on the internet: Fr. Mike Schmitz, Dr. Scott Hahn, Dr. Brant Pitre, and Bishop Robert Barron – there are many more.
- Commit to praying with Scriptures – practice Lectio Divina; and
- Pray with your spouse and family.
Audio Reflection:
