2nd Friday in Advent, December 15, 2023
Is 48:17-19, Ps 1: 1-4, 6, Mt 11:16-19
Who do you listen to? And when I ask that question, I am asking about from whom do you receive your teaching, and from whom do you learn what is good and bad? I would imagine it is very difficult these days to decipher all the information we hear. As a child, whenever I asked my parents a question they did not know the answer to, they would say, “Go look it up!” In my time, that would mean going into the living room where our two sets of encyclopedias were along with other various sources of information. If I could not find it there, I would beg a ride to the library, go to the card catalog, and start searching. Generally speaking, the information I found in all of these resources was sound. I could trust them, and my parents could trust them as well. They felt very comfortable with the sources I used.
Fast forward twenty years or so when my kids were young. I remember my daughter wanting to get information for a school project and I said, “Go look it up!” So, she sat down on the computer and typed in “Pigs on a farm.” I heard a shriek from the other room, so I ran in to see what was wrong. I’m not going to describe what she found, but, suffice it to say, it was not pigs on a farm. I could not, and neither could my children, trust any of the sources they were using for information. And, no longer could they, or myself, trust them in the future. Today, the situation is worse with instant access to whatever we want. There is no more questioning the source, it is all about, it is there, believe it. How far we have gone from trusting, to acceptance of whatever information we find? Or even to the contrary, do not believe anything you find, it’s all fake. If it doesn’t match, what I believe to be the truth, then it’s not the truth.
In our Gospel today, Jesus runs into similar issues with those around Him who did not want to believe what He was saying. It did not matter what He wanted to teach them; they would not listen. It seems they felt He was not a trustworthy source. And, I have a feeling He was a little irritated at the crowds around Him that day because He called them out for their not-so-nice comments. As Jesus said to them, … You say John (the Baptist) was too good and He, Jesus, was a drunkard! It seems like Jesus was not getting any respect that day, but Jesus was not worried, because, over time, wisdom will prosper. And, over time, we too will understand what Jesus’ message is all about. The prophet Isaiah also exhorts us to listen to where the “good” comes from. “I, the Lord, your God, teach you what is for your good.” If only we would listen and not be stubborn-hearted like those around Jesus. Blessed is the Man who follows not the counsel of the wicked, the psalm cries out, but delights in the law of the Lord.
If we are to trust any source of information, we need to know the source. If that source is not sound and pure, we will never learn the truth. Yes, we have gone from a time where the sources were trustworthy, to a time where we have to question every source. It should not be like this, we should be able to know a good source and believe it. Where can we find good sources? We can start with the Bible. Go to the Lord your God, as Isiah says, and listen to what Jesus says. The Bible is full of his teachings, all we have to do is open it and read. If you get confused or have questions, reach out to our catechists. They are all willing to help explain the messages and help you learn. There are many opportunities here at St James to learn more. Come, and be part of it to learn the wonderful message of our salvation that Jesus has to offer. For He is the good we need to listen to, and He is the way we should go.
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