“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’ life was characterised by “compassion”. Jesus’ showed compassion to tax-collectors and sinners by becoming a friend of them. Unbelieving generation of Jesus’ time misinterpreted both approaches by calling John’s austerity as demonic possession and Jesus’ compassion in associating to sinners in dining tables as gluttony.
Although “John’s austerity” and “Jesus’ compassion” seem to be contradictory, but they are complementary in their intention, i.e., God’s call to conversion.
In the advent context, austerity as spiritual discipline and compassion as social discipline, are presented as two dispositions necessary in our Advent/Christmas preparations. They seem to be diverse, but it is a harmonious diversity serving the same purpose fulfilled through the mission of Jesus and John the Baptist. Amen.
Fr. Jerry Vallomkunnel MCBS