How often have friend and foe confronted us with this ancient dictum, "You can't please everyone." We read in today's Gospel passage from Matthew (11:16-19), that Jesus encountered the same dilemma: No matter what he did, there was cricism. The people he dealt with were like "children who sat in the marketplace and called to one another, 'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.'" There was cricism of John the Baptist and displeasure with Jesus over the food they ate and the company they kept. Don't we often feel in the same boat?
Isaiah offers a solution: "I the Lord your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go." (Is 48: 17). Being attentive to what God teaches leads us to inner peace. Psalm 119 goes on for 176 verses extolling the benefit of meditating on God's Law, digesting it, delighting in it and following it. In so doing, a person cannot go wrong and need not dread nor fear the opinion of others. Indeed, those who follow the the Lord will have the light of life. (Cf. Jn 8:12). Advent is the time for such reflection and renewal of confidence. May we use these precious days to listen to and deepen our appreciation for the Word of God.
Bro. Rene
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