Jesus’ Testimony to John

Today's Reflections

                                                                                   

 

Jesus’ Testimony to John

Mt 11:11-15

[Jesus said to the crowds,] ¹¹“Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹²From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. ¹³All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. ¹⁴And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. ¹⁵Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

If you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah. John the Baptist is compared to Elijah. Elijah is regarded as the most powerful of the prophets: fed by a widow of Zarephath, he made her jar of flour not go empty and her jug of oil not run dry, then later raised her dead son back to life (cf 1 Kgs 17:9-24). Above all, Elijah—whose name literally means “YHWH is God”—was the mighty prophet who ended the pagan worship of Baal in Israel through a powerful proclamation and miracle at Mount Carmel where he challenged the 850 false prophets under the employ of King Ahab (cf 1 Kgs 18:16ff). For this Elijah is called the “disturber of Israel.”

In like manner, John the Baptist receives a strong outpouring of the Holy Spirit that makes him preach without compromise against the evil ways of Herod and his court, and against the corruption of soldiers and tax collectors whom he labels as “brood of vipers” (cf Lk 3:7-14).

This season of Advent,

is God “disturbing” you? About what?

Are there persons whom you consider

“disturbers” in your life now?

What is God telling you about them?