Gospel Delights!

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

1 Tm 3:14-16; Lk 7:31-35

In today’s gospel, we find Jesus disappointed by the attitude of the Pharisees and Scribes. 

Jesus compares their attitude to childish, mischievous behaviour.

When even the tax collectors were drawn to the prophetic message of John the Baptist and repented, the Pharisees and Scribes rejected him. After John the Baptist, it is Jesus who they reject now. 

The reason for the rejection of John and Jesus is not religious; not even ideological. Rather, citing the ‘style of ministry’ of both, they justify their unrepentance.  

John led an ascetic life, living in the wilderness. They accused him of being possessed by a demon. Jesus identifies with the lowly and mingles with them in solidary fraternity. Now they accuse him of befriending sinners. 

When their message of unrepentance is clear, Jesus clarifies that wisdom is not about being caught up in a legalistic formula but is witnessed in loving God and neighbors, and being faithful to God’s instructions. Everyone who obeys God’s Word will discover the Wisdom!

Let the Spirit of God breathe into us the capacity to see the need for a change of heart.

At this time, I do remember the famous lines of the Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr: 

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar