Friday, II Week of Advent, Memorial of St. John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church
(Matthew 11:16-19)
In an illustration of a Bible drawn when Bibles were laboriously copied by hand and illustrated with gold leaf, the angels are announcing the birth of the Messiah to the shepherds around Bethlehem. Most of the shepherds are listening to the message, but in the corner two -- a young man and his maiden -- are merrily dancing off. The illustration forthrightly depicts what we know by experience -- the good news is intended for all but some choose not to heed it.
In the gospel today Jesus expresses his frustration with those who deliberately ignore the gospel. He says that it has been preached in varied tones – the sternness of John the Baptist and the festiveness of himself; still, most of those in his generation find objection to it. Could it be that the idea of a God who is so close to us – nearer to us than we are to ourselves, says St. Augustine – is too much for these people to bear? Apparently for them life is easier to deal with if God would be distant and not so caring.
In less than two weeks now we will be celebrating the feast of God’s closeness. More than anything Christmas tells us how much God loves us – so much that He gives up His place in the heavens, as it were, to accompany us in our need. Our response must only be one of attentiveness to what He has to say. Like Mary in Luke’s portrayal of the Christmas story, we have to meditate on the events “reflecting on them in (our) heart(s).”
