A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 7:31-35)
Jesus said to the crowds: “For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ 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.’ But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
In today’s Gospel, after Jesus had raised a young man back to life, Jesus talks to the crowd about John the Baptist. What the people see in the way that both Jesus and John live fails to fulfill what they believe about prophets or the Messiah. Jesus compares the generation of people he lives among to children who fail to recognize the way of life of either: “We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.” John the Baptist’s lifestyle differed from that of Jesus, who lived among others, drinking and socializing with various people, including tax collectors and sinners. Referring both to John and himself, Jesus says to the crowd: “But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.” How do people of today’s generation respond to God’s messengers?
Father in heaven, help me recognize you in my life and within the events that unfold in this present generation. Help me hear and respond to you. In hearing and responding to you, give me the courage to give witness to my faith. As the Korean martyrs bore witness to the crucified and risen Christ, give me the grace to do the same, even in the face of persecution and sacrifice. As Saint John Paul II said during the Mass for the canonization of the Korean martyrs: “Through the sacrifice of their own lives they have become like Christ in a very special way.” Strengthen me, Lord, to cling to Christ your Son.
From the Gospel acclamation: “Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life, you have the words of everlasting life.” Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, martyrs, pray for us!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.