Isaiah 48:17-19
Matthew 11:16-19
What description do people have of you? who do you consider yourself to be? what is it that people identify in you as a child of God? John the Baptist and Jesus Christ both proclaimed the kingdom of God and the good news of salvation and righteousness. John proclaimed a baptism of repentance, he pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God; Jesus told the people to repent and turn away from sin, and by His death, He took away the sins of the world.
John and Jesus had tongues as sharp as a two-edged sword. John chastised King Herod Antipas and Herodias for their adulterous relationship and called the religious leaders brood of vipers; Jesus chastised the Scribes and Pharisees for being hypocrites and calls Herod a fox (an unclean animal used to describe an immoral person in the Israelite holiness codes)Luke 13:31-32. The king and religious leaders were furious with both John and Jesus. John was arrested and put in prison; Jesus was apprehended at Gethsemane and held overnight. The similarities between John and Jesus are remarkable, and if John could live a life that was similar to Jesus in many ways, we are called to pattern our lives on Jesus.
In today’s gospel passage , Jesus warns us to accept God’s word before it is too late. The parable echoes the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 3:4 -There is time for everything,however, at every time we are called to conversion. Conversion is to repent of our sins, attune ourselves to God’s word and proclaim the good news with joy. Let us not be selective, stubborn and unsatisfied towards the faith God has given to us like the group of children described in today’s gospel. Now the time is right. Our life depends on God’s word and Him alone. Remember, anyone who follows Him will have the light of life. May the Lord grant us health, well-being, and happiness. Amen.
Fr Joseph Osho