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 WE SANG A DIRGE, BUT YOU DID NOT WEEP. Jesus compares his listeners to children playing pretend and declaring, “We played music, but you did not respond.” The crowds are not observing and listening to him. Though they are present, they do not give importance to what they see and hear.

Jesus challenges his listeners to pay careful attention to what he is doing because they will miss what he is trying to convey to help them. When they hear him talk about the Kingdom of God with authority and witness the miracles he performs, they must conclude that the Kingdom is unfolding and taking hold of them. They cannot ignore it.

Their misconceptions about Jesus result in their failure to make the appropriate response. They misinterpreted John the Baptist. Now they misunderstand Jesus. How can they be saved as they wish?

We Christians want help. We desire to be spared from troubles, but we do not listen to God’s inspirations. We accuse one another, like the children in the parable, of making life difficult.

Let us respond to God’s message, dance with God’s music, and be graceful to one another.