＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

Isaiah 48:17-19

 Thus says Yahweh,

Your Re-deemer, the Holy One of Israel: I, Yahweh, your God, teach you what is best for you; I lead you in the way that you must go.  Had you paid attention to my commandments, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

 Your descendants would have been like the sand, and those born of your stock like its grains, their names never cut off nor blotted out from my presence.

 

Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 & 6

Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 11:16-19

 Now, to what can I compare the people of this day? They are like children sitting in the marketplace, about whom their companions complain:   ‘We played the flute for you but you would not dance. We sang a funeral-song but you would not cry!’  For John came fasting and peo­ple said: ‘He is possessed.’  

By demon!’ then, the Son of Man came, he ate and drank; and people said: ‘Look at this man! A glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet, wisdom is vindicated by her works.

  

Gospel Reflection：

It is vexing to have playmates who do not follow instructions or rules. The game could not prosper and time is spent on arguments rather than the joy of playing. Translating that to spiritual language, Jesus is exasperated at His contemporaries.

They have a lot of complaints and want everything opposite to what Jesus brings to them. When John came with all his asceticism, they branded him as possessed.

And when Jesus comes with His celebrative brand of spirituality, they accuse Him of gluttony, drunkenness, and a certain fondness for the despicable characters of society. This leaves Jesus stumped for He does not know what the people wants.

It is hard to minister to those who wants the exact opposite of what is in the present. You can never win them because they choose not to cooperate. And therefore, to work for public acceptance and according to their opinion is easier and might make you prosper.

But it is a fleeting achievement. Consistency of purpose in good times and in bad is better because it will last longer.