By All Her Children

Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs

But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth. Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion, who was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed to the Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory.  1 Timothy 3:15-16

Piety

“…Wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”  Luke 7:35

Study

This generation is a fickle one…could be a reference to us.  However, in a contextual reading, the verse pertains to those living as contemporaries to Jesus.  Thus, after passing judgement on the generation, we hear once again the expression:  “Wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

John and Jesus are the children of Wisdom; however, John was repudiated for being ascetic and not eating and drinking with the crowd down at Archie’s Place on a Friday night after bowling league.  Jesus – on the other hand -- was rejected by the Pharisees for sharing the table with sinners, exactly the opposite reason his cousin was spurned.  The opposition could not have it both ways but tried.

Notes in the New American Bible explain that “the works of Jesus the Messiah are those of divine Wisdom, of which he is the embodiment.”  We can conclude that Jesus vindicates Jesus.  In addition, the saints who follow also vindicate Jesus as children and witnesses to wisdom. 

Despite walking among the people, their selfishness showed as they rejected His wisdom and stumbled in their sin. May we not make the same mistake seventy times seven.  After all, we, too, supposedly know the spiritual mystery:

Manifest in the flesh, vindicated in the spirit

Seen by angels, proclaimed to the Gentiles by a man

Believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory

Action

What are we like? 

Maybe if caught at a tailgate party before a contest involving the Washington football club, we would – like Jesus – be accused of being “a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” 

If we were seen at Missionhurst or San Damiano or maybe at the depths of Lenten observances, people could get the impression that we are a bunch of pious Pete’s or Patty’s -- neither eating food nor drinking wine.  They might even say we are possessed, too, because our ways might be seen as strange, something not normal. 

Strive for balance between extremes of behavior embracing both your John and your Jesus, your Mary and your Martha.