14 December, 2023 | Memorial of St John of the Cross | Thursday of the Second Week of Advent
Gospel Mt 11:11-15
Jesus said to the crowds:
"Amen, I say to you,
among those born of women
there has been none greater than John the Baptist;
yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
From the days of John the Baptist until now,
the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence,
and the violent are taking it by force.
All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John.
And if you are willing to accept it,
he is Elijah, the one who is to come.
Whoever has ears ought to hear."
Reflections:
On the second Sunday of Advent, we stressed on the humility of John the Baptist which really is the virtue that made him great. Today, Jesus says that “the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he”. What does Jesus want us to understand by this? Jesus was just giving an example of what real greatness is. Real greatness is attaining eternal life in heaven through the merits of his suffering death and resurrection. Therefore our focus and our ultimate aim should be heaven, and that our every intention and action should be directed towards that point. This season of Advent once again reminds of what our priority should be—to listen to the one John points out: “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”—The Lamb through whose blood made us citizens of heaven.
Activity:
Let us spend some time during the course of the day to thank God for the gift of our Baptism that makes us members of God’s household, and pray for the grace to understand the extent of his love for us.
🙏🙏
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