First Reading - 1 Timothy 3:14-16
Gospel - Luke 7:31-35
In the first reading, St Paul instructs Timothy, how to live and behave in the Christian family as it is not mere a community but it also treasures profound richness of Christian faith. Paul explains him that the richness of Catholic faith is subsumed in the mystery. The meaning of "mystery" in the biblical context is not something beyond human comprehension rather entails God's revelation which is gradually unfolded. Paul further elaborates the mystery of Catholic faith in relation to the birth, death, resurrection and glorious ascension (and parousia) of Jesus. Furthermore, Paul also underlines that the mystery of Catholic faith is not only exclusively affirmed by a particular group but also has been affirmed and confirmed by the whole of humanity, celestial beings (angels) and divine person (Holy Spirit). What we can sum up from the passage is that Paul intends to tell Timothy and through him to us that the Catholic faith assumes a great deal of richness of mystery in the person of Jesus, hence it needs a response of our faith.
Jesus, in the gospel, compares the attitude of the Scribes and the Pharisees with that of street-children who want to entertain themselves by acting out wedding and funeral songs. They divide themselves into two groups. But when one group proposes to sing wedding songs and asks the other group to dance, the second group will refuse, proposing funeral songs instead, and asking the first group to act as a funeral procession, carrying one of them on their shoulders. In the end both groups will be frustrated. Jesus states that the scribes and Pharisees, because of their pride and prejudice, act exactly like these immature, irresponsible children. Jesus criticizes the unbelieving Jews for not listening either to John the Baptist, who preached a message of austerity, repentance, and God’s judgement on unrepentant sinners, or to Jesus, who preached the Good News of God’s love, mercy, forgiveness and salvation.
Dear friends, the mystery of our faith in Jesus contains a great hope and needs to be responded in faith. The gospel passage throws light on the fact that the response of faith is not always favorable; there are some who will respond to it with incredulity and indifference. However, that doesn't cease the fact to exist. The mystery of our faith continues to seek out the willing souls to respond to it in faith.
The gospel passage also teaches us that some people will criticize us as they criticized Jesus and John the Baptist, even when we do good, correct things with the best of intentions. The best response is to ignore the critics, while examining our actions and correcting anything wrong we may find in them.
Like the generation of Jesus’ time, our age is marked by indifference and contempt, especially in regard to the things of Heaven. Indifference dulls our ears to God’s voice and to the Good News of the Gospel. Only the humble of heart can find joy and favor in God’s grace.
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