Day 12 Advent, 12/15/23: A Friend of the Socially Unacceptable (Mt 11:19)

"The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners'" (Mt 11:19).

The flute symbolizes joy, and the dirge symbolizes mourning. By complaining that their playmates did not participate in their games (Mt 11:16-17), the children were saying that they were not happy or sad but unresponsive or indifferent. Jesus uses this parable as a rebuke to the Bible teachers and Pharisees. They complained about both John the Baptist and Jesus. John's fasting was too strict (Mt 11:18) and Jesus' dining habits were too lenient, liberal and socially unacceptable (Mt 11:19). But in reality, they judged and rejected the teachings of both John and Jesus based on their own criteria, biases, expectations and preferences.

Am I indifferent, nonchalant or not entirely responsive to God's Word? Even if I'm far from him, Paul's description of his struggle comes to mind: "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do" (Rom 7:15).

Do I judge or criticize others? In the past I judged and rejected charismatics for being emotional, Catholics for worshipping Mary, and nominal Christians for not studying the Bible seriously. I had to leave my judgmental tribal mindset in order not to judge those who are unlike me and my tribe.

Jesus was indeed the true friend of sinners. The greatness of Jesus is that regardless of the severity of his suffering, even on the cross, his heart and mind was always directed toward the welfare and benefit of others ... even for us and for me as the Hound of Heaven.

I am frail, flawed, fallible and fallen, yet supported and strengthened supernaturally by the sufferings of my Savior.

Friday, December 15, 2023 Second Week of Advent Matthew 11:16–19 Friends, in today's Gospel, the Pharisees compare the eating habits of John the Baptist, who fasted, and Jesus, who dined with sinners. In the carefully stratified society of Jesus' time, a righteous person would never associate with the unrighteous, for fear of becoming unclean. But here is Jesus, scandalizing everyone because he does indeed break down these barriers. How would you feel if you saw me socializing with prostitutes and drug dealers? Would it shock you, dismay you, disappoint you? But this is what Jesus did, precisely because he was the Incarnation of the God who aggressively seeks out the lost. God looks for us, comes running after us, never lets go, never relents, never gives up. The more we run, the more he runs after us; the more we hide, the more he looks; the more we resist, the more he persists. God loves sinners and associates with them.  Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, PO Box 97330, Washington, DC 20090-7330, United States Manage Your Email Preferences .