Word of the day

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
Is 48:17-19

Thus says the LORD, your redeemer,
the Holy One of Israel:
I, the LORD, your God,
teach you what is for your good,
and lead you on the way you should go.
If you would hearken to my commandments,
your prosperity would be like a river,
and your vindication like the waves of the sea;
Your descendants would be like the sand,
and those born of your stock like its grains,
Their name never cut off
or blotted out from my presence.

From the Gospel according to Matthew
Mt 11:16-19

Jesus said to the crowds:
“To what shall I compare this generation?
It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another,
‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance,
we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said,
‘He is possessed by a demon.’
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said,
‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’
But wisdom is vindicated by her works.”

The image of the children who are afraid to dance and cry and who are afraid of everything, who ask to be assured about everything reminds us of those sad Christians, who are always criticizing preachers of truth because they are afraid to open the door to the Holy Spirit. Let us pray for all those present and everyone, so that we do not become sad Christians, who rob the Holy Spirit of the freedom of coming among us through the scandal of preaching. (Santa Marta, 13 December 2013)