Gospel for December 11 2022 – Matthew 11:2-11
Gospel Reflections for December 11 2022
The Least of these in the Kingdom of God is greater!
No one would have understood Jesus when He said that! In every ancient Kingdom; Roman, Greek, or Egyptian, those who were weak, poor, or sick were ignored, forgotten, and despised. They meant nothing.
People in those days only admired power and being on top. For example, if you walked around a corner of a street in ancient Rome, and came upon three men kicking an old man on the ground, your instinct would be, well …to join in kicking him! It would never occur to you back then to help a weak person. Why help a loser? You would naturally join the more powerful side.
That seems so terrible to us today! I am sure you would be horrified to see such a scene now and instantly come to the aid of any person in trouble. Your heart naturally goes out to those in need even if in countries far away. Why are people so merciful today?
Remember that 2,022 years ago, the Almighty God of the universe came to earth as a little child …weak, vulnerable, and in great danger. That the God of the universe would do this tells us something important about caring for anyone who is weak, vulnerable, and in danger.
Your instinctive desire to help an old man on the ground is the happy legacy of 2,022 years of Christianity, and over 2,022 Christmas celebrations that remember how the God of the Universe came to our rescue as a people in need in Bethlehem …and in your world today.
Today’s Gospel affirms that Jesus helped, “the blind see, the lame walk, the dead rise, and the poor have the Word of God preached to them.” No one is ever ignored, forgotten, or despised in the Kingdom of God! No one should ever again be victimized on any street.
Our world still has a long way to go before all injustice is gone, but you can be glad that most people around the world today are horrified when bad things happen and want to help in some way.
You can feel proud that this is the very legacy of Christianity since that ancient Roman street and that first Christmas when Jesus lived the way we are meant to be …full of compassion, courage, and love.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Excellent observation and point clearly made! Makes Christmas even more important.
Thank you!
Jesus came to change minds and hearts so as to make a better World. The resistance by those in power made it difficult to do. Misunderstood and detested He continued on teaching us what we must do .
His impact was monumental and His ideas and suggestions come down to us in following our Faith in what He Proclaimed. Should we follow what He preached that is revealed to us through the Mass and Scriptures therein, what a marvelous World it would be.
Thanks Father Dave for reminding us of this each week.
Yes, that still remains the plan …to follow Jesus!
Dear Father Dave,
To be sure, Christianity has come a long way from the birth of Christ and His establishment of Christianity.
What is troubling, still, are the disruptions and wars around the globe, along with crime, homelessness, addictions, misconceptions, and ignorance.
Perhaps these things, as horrific as they are, serve as a reminder of what life is like without love. What comes to mind is Christ’s example of love on the cross and His forgiveness.
Father Dave, thank you for all you do. God bless.
Kathleen
Yes, still many problems today. We should always remember that Jesus arrived in a world that was filled with violence, injustice, slavery, and war. Yet, Our Lord still came. That is how much He loves us!
Beautiful interpretation of the precious Gospel!!! We must be Jesus in our world today for one touch of Jesus saves people!!! Our heart hurts so to see people being harmed, inured and forgotton!!! We must reach out and touch someone in love!!! Each and everyone of us as you are our precious Father Dave!! We loveeeeeeeeeeeeee your love for Jesus and we are going to try to touch someone every day in His LOVE!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, franca and Dick
Thank you.