Friday 15 December 2023

Today is Friday the 15th of December, in the second week of Advent.

Gungor featuring All Sons and Daughters sing 'O Light'.

O light come to reconcile, come in like a child
Holy night
O light our hopes and all our fears, met within your sight
Holy night
Hallelujah,God is with us,
Hallelujah, A light has come
O light God and man entwine, of earth and of divine
Holy night
O light mending fractured earth, the soul now felt its worth
O Holy night
A light has come, oh, a light has come
Hallelujah Holy God is with us, love is always born within
Hallelujah Light will chase and find us, love is facing us again oh
Hallelujah, God is with us
Hallelujah, A light has come
A light has come, oh a light has come

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 11:16-19

‘But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market-places and calling to one another,
“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
 we wailed, and you did not mourn.”
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon”; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!” Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.’

In today’s reading, Jesus sounds exasperated by those around him who are sceptical and critical of his ministry and the ministry of John the Baptist.

Can you relate to this? Perhaps you’ve been criticized for your faith? Perhaps for the way that you live as a Christian?

What does it feel like to be on the receiving end of this?

For the generation in our scripture today, perhaps what their words show is a lack of understanding, or resistance, or different expectations. Can you perhaps identify with these reactions in today’s generation?

As you listen to the reading again, call to mind these two men, steadfast in their work…John by the river Jordan as he baptises, and Jesus, as he teaches and heals.

Jesus is being called a friend of tax collectors and sinners and, although meant to be a derogatory remark, is so true.

“Wisdom is vindicated by her deeds’, says Jesus.

Take a few moments now to reflect on the deeds of Jesus, his true friendship and his sacrificial love for all.

O Wisdom
Lord and Ruler
Root of Jesse
Key of David
Rising Sun
King of the Nations
Emmanuel.
Come, Lord Jesus.