Reflections on Scripture | Friday of the Second Week of Advent

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
Matthew 11:16-19

Jesus said to the crowds:
"To what shall I compare this generation?
It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another,
'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance,
we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.'
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said,
'He is possessed by a demon.'
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said,
'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'
But wisdom is vindicated by her works."

Reflection

Matthew reveals to us something about the human condition. Judgment. We think we know. We make judgments on what is true and what is not.

We have expectations. If they are not fulfilled in the way we think they should be fulfilled, we reject them. All of this is so clearly present in this gospel. When John the Baptist was resisted and Jesus was resisted and they were resisted for what they were called to be in this world, and what is so beautiful in this passage is saying that if you seek wisdom, not just understanding, not just facts, but if you seek wisdom, it will be the source of what you need in order to surrender to everything that God is here to tell us.

Closing Prayer

Father, free is from what we expect from the way we see things, as if they were rigidly the way we want them to be. Give us a heart that is open and receptive to things we cannot fully understand. Help us to ponder, to wonder instead of judge and reject. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kyle Cross