September 16, 2009
Memorial of Saint Cornelius, pope and martyr, and Saint Cyprian, bishop and martyr
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 3:16
“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.” Matthew 11:18-19
Piety
Great are the works of the LORD, to be treasured for all their delights. Majestic and glorious is your work, your wise design endures forever. The works of your hands are right and true, reliable all your decrees, established forever and ever, to be observed with loyalty and care. You sent deliverance to your people, ratified your covenant forever; holy and awesome is your name. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; prudent are all who live by it. Your praise endures forever. Psalm 111:2, 3, 7-10
Study
Ever watch children playing? Sometimes, different group leaders want to play different games and the other children don’t want to follow along. Jesus uses the analogy of children at play to point out the problems that both he and John the Baptist have had getting their message across.
John came preaching resentence and the people did not want to listen because he was too eccentric – living out in the desert, eating honey and locusts. So Jesus came along with the same message but a different method. He hung around with sinners. He cured the sick. He attracted a group of followers. And still the people in the play group rejected the message. The children were not pleased with either approach God used to get their attention.
How does the Lord get his message across? The task is up to us – the Church – now. Both readings today introduce us to the concept of “vindication.” Vindication provides a justification or defense from an allegation of blame. Timothy teaches us that “Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion, who was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the spirit.” Matthew teaches that “wisdom is vindicated by her works.” Wisdom is synonymous with the Lord.
First, God was vindicated through the victory over the cross. Now, God is vindicated in the spirit – the spirit which guides our action today. Similarly, “wisdom is vindicated by her works” or in other words by the actions of her children who listen to the message, not those who reject the message or the messenger.
Her children are you and I. Are we up to the task?
Action
Our generation will be judged by how we respond to the Good News. Will we reject it as too hard? Will we repent (change) and adhere to the message to pick up our cross and follow Jesus?
On my Cursillo weekend (Arlington, VA 104th), one of the team members quoted G. K. Chesterton in his talk. “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.”
Will the message of Jesus be vindicated in the way we live out our Fourth Day? Or will our ears harden and we go back to our old habits because we think the task is too hard to accomplish?
