Thursday, September 12, 2019

Reflection for September 18, Wednesday; Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 7:31-35


Gospel: Luke 7:31-35
(Jesus said to the crowds) 31 “Then to what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep. 33 For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon. 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. 35 But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
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Reflection:
Why did the Pharisees and scribes refuse to hear the message of conversion and hope of John and Jesus? There are many reasons why they refused to hear their message of conversion. But primarily Jesus and John were nobodies for them; they (Pharisees and scribes) were the ruling class and rulers of their time. So why hear the message of these two nobodies?

By their contemptuous treatment of John and Jesus they deprived themselves of a meaningful life. A life that is not based on earthly power but based on a higher power that is beyond this world.

Why do many of us refuse to hear the conversion message of John and Jesus as well? Because we love this world more than we love the wisdom filled words of Jesus and John. This is the reason why so many of us refuse to hear the conversion message of John and Jesus.

But what would it do us if we amass all the things in this world if we are without Jesus? Could we bring to the next life the wealth that we have amassed in this world? Could our love of earthly wealth help us gain passage to heaven?

What if we hear and ponder the conversion message of John and Jesus?  We will certainly gain entry to heaven even if we are materially poor in this present and fleeting world.  

It’s absolutely better to be materially poor yet have Jesus in our lives than to be rich without Jesus. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

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