Daily Lesson for December 21, 2018

Today Daily Lesson comes from Matthew chapter 11 verses 7 through 11:

7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written,

“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,

   who will prepare your way before you.” 

11Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

The old age closes with the Prophet John.

John was the greatest of all the prophets. Fearless and austere, John lived what he believed. No one ever accused John of hypocrisy.  No one ever accused him of being too subtle either. 

John was the hell, fire, and brimstone preacher’s preacher. 

Yet, Jesus said, the very least in the kingdom of God is greater than John. 

Why?

Perhaps because in all his moral conviction and convicting, there was one word that was never used by John the Baptist: Love. And another word also: Grace. 

Now is the time of the Prophet.  There is much wrong with the world. There is plenty to be angry about. The Prophet comes to tell us the truth — whether we or our leaders will hear it or not. 

But there will come a time when the age of the prophet will end. And when it does there will need be much grace and much. It will be the only way to move forward together. 

St. Paul said we can do many moral things but if we have not love we are nothing.  We can be moral. We can be right. We can be great.  But if we have not love we are still less than the least in the kingdom of God.

The old age is passing away. It’s dying slowly; but like all things it too will succumb,eventually. 

And then, we shall behold a new age — the age of the Messiah, whose law is love and Gospel is peace.

And it will be just in time.