10 December 2021 Matthew 11:16-19
Friday of the 2nd Week in Advent
HARMONIOUS DIVERSITY
“Wisdom is vindicated by her works” V.19
The characters of the gospel today are Jesus and John. The life and ministry of John was characterized by “austerity” (John invited people to a change of heart through austerity) whereas Jesus’ was of “compassion” (Jesus’ showed compassion to tax-collectors and sinners by becoming a friend of them). Unbelieving generation misinterpreted both methods by calling John’s austerity as demonic possession and Jesus’ compassion in associating to sinners as gluttony.
Although John’s austerity and Jesus’ compassion seem very different from each other. They seem to be contradictory, but they are complementary because it was God’s call to conversion manifested in both ways.
[Today’s gospel reminds us of ‘austerity’ – a personal discipline (X’ mas of soul) and ‘compassion’ – social discipline (through charity) as two dispositions necessary in our Advent/Christmas preparations. They seem to be diverse, but is a harmonious diversity serving the same purpose fulfilled through the mission of Jesus and John the Baptist] Amen.