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Gospel: Luke 7:31-35
Jesus said to the crowds:
“To what shall I compare the people of this generation?
What are they like?
They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another,
‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.
We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’
For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine,
and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said,
‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’
But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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This is one of the more obscure passages in Luke’s Gospel, making it difficult for us to find its immediate relevance to our lives today.
But a deeper dive may reveal a pearl of wisdom.
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Two of the most significant moments in community life are weddings and funerals – this is no less true today than it was in ancient Palestine. Weddings are moments of great joy, while funerals usher in inevitable sorrow.
Members of any community are expected to participate in these events when invited. As Saint Paul says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”
Not doing so could be considered rude, hurtful, even offensive.
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In today’s Gospel, the Lord likens his ministry to a joyful wedding. All are invited to participate! Yet, for some reason, the crowds are not interested in celebrating with him; rather, they accuse Jesus of being a glutton and a drunkard.
On the other hand, John the Baptist’s fire-and-brimstone style preaching stoked fear and repentance in peoples’ hearts, much like a veil of grief descending upon a funeral. That didn’t please the crowds, either; rather, they accused John of being possessed by a demon.
You can imagine the Lord throwing his hands up in frustration. Neither celebration nor sorrow seemed to satisfy the crowds.
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We can feel that same sense of frustration when trying to share our faith with family members, friends, or those on the edge of faith.
Whether we take the joyful approach of Christ, or the stern style of John, either path leads to an encounter with the Divine.
But faith can never be forced. Some people hear the Gospel message and chose to neither dance nor weep. They’re indifferent.
All God asks of us is to present the Gospel message, then pray for the best.
So, how might we share our faith today?
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Image credits: (1) Forward in Christ (2) Baptism of Christ, David Zelenka, 2005 (3) Cru