Reflection for December 11 Thursday of the Second Week of Advent: Matthew 11:11-15

Gospel: Matthew 11:11-15

Jesus said to the crowds: “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. 

All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

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Reflection:

What do we do when we see that something is wrong in our family or in the organization to which we belong? Deep within, we know that we cannot remain indifferent. We are called to restore order and to help make things right, not by force, but by fidelity to truth and goodness.

John the Baptist lived out this call with courage and clarity. He summoned the people to repentance, proclaiming that the kingdom of God was at hand (Matthew 3:2). He saw firsthand the sinfulness of his time, yet he did not turn away in silence. Instead, he called hearts to conversion and renewal, preparing the way for the Lord.

John’s faithfulness did not come without cost. He gave his life for the sake of righteousness when he confronted King Herod for coveting Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip (Matthew 14:1–12). Someone had to stand for God’s truth, and John chose to be that witness. Sent by God, he sought to restore order and to bring righteousness once again. With unwavering courage, he confronted the powers of his day, even when doing so meant surrendering his own life.

As we journey through our own lives, we too become witnesses to immorality, corruption, and the many forms of injustice that wound our society. The temptation to remain silent is strong. Fear, convenience, and the desire for comfort can easily dull our conscience. Yet the Gospel urges us not to hesitate. We are called to speak out for what is moral and right, even when such faithfulness exposes us to misunderstanding, rejection, or suffering. If temporary hardship is the price of standing for truth, then so be it.

Evil continues to spread when we choose fear over courage, when we bow to the schemes of wickedness rather than trust in the power of God. But evil does not have the final word. To overcome it, we must take a stand—together—and allow our voices, our choices, and our lives to bear witness to the light.

The question then comes home to us: when truth is threatened and goodness is challenged, will we have the courage to live and speak as authentic witnesses of God, whatever the cost may be? — Marino J. Dasmarinas