REFLECTIONS TODAY While children usually exemplify innocence, obedience, and humility, we also associate them with behavior that we call “childish.” This most likely means for us “difficult to please,” “stubborn,” “spoiled,” “unwilling to listen to explanations,” and the like. The metaphor in the Gospel calls attention to the “stubbornness” of the Jews in Jesus’ time to accept both him and his message, on the one hand, and John the Baptist, on the other. We are often like that: we refuse to look at facts or listen to rational explanations because we have our minds set on supporting some people or we do not want to accept we have been wrong. Though John the Baptist lived an exemplary life in prayer and fasting, the Jews refused to believe him. All the more when they see Jesus eating with sinners and tax collectors. Are we “childish” in our own ways: persistent on what we simply want and not open to the truth that others may bring to us?

Gospel • MATTHEW 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.” SOURCE: “366 Days with the Lord 2020,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.