Jesus’ testimony to John

JESUS said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another,/ ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’ 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.” REFLECTION LIKE CHILDREN WHO SIT IN THE MARKETPLACE. Nowadays, with children focused on their modern gadgets and lost in the digital world, one can only look back with nostalgia to the time when children made their own toys and organized their games. They would argue over what games to play, but they would usually end up enjoying their play.

Jesus uses the “parable” of children unwilling to play with their mates to point to people’s rejection both of John the Baptist and of himself. They do not find the ascetic John to their liking. But they also bitterly criticize Jesus for mixing with the ordinary people – especially those branded as sinners – and joining in their celebrations.

Despite this frequent rejection of God’s messengers, nevertheless, God’s wisdom is shown to be right by her children, i.e., those who respond to John the Baptist and to Jesus. It is in fact basically the religious leaders – the Pharisees and lawyers and priests – who reject John and Jesus, while the common people, and especially the despised tax collectors, are baptized by John and crowd around Jesus to listen to his message.

“For those who believe, no miracle is necessary.

For those who do not, no miracle is sufficient.”

What prevents you from being committed to your faith?