Thursday of the Second Week of Advent
(Isaiah 41:13-20; Matthew 11:11-15)
John the Baptist was a fiery preacher in his time. His reputation was like Jesus’. But how is he to be considered in relation to
the Lord? Let’s take a look at the
Scriptures today.
Isaiah’s vision in the first reading suggests that John was
like a threshing sledge that separates grain from its stalk and husk. John’s preaching is a call to judgment. It separates good people from the bad -- the
useful from the waste. Jesus has another
role. He gathers the good together,
heals them of whatever they suffered in the threshing, and forms them into a
church community. He is like the
football coach who takes young athletes and through knowledge and inspiration
molds them into a winning team.
We form Jesus’ well-trained team. We have been tested and instructed to
announce the Kingdom of God. Our words
-- never too critical and always very hopeful -- give testimony to the
sacrifice and the glory of the Lord Jesus. He
is the one to be followed to have a truly wonderful life.
