From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven is something to be
conquered; and violent men seize it. Up to the time of John, there was only prophecy: all the
prophets and the law. And if you believe me, John is indeed that Elijah, whose coming was
predicted. Let anyone with ears listen!
Reflect
When I was a little girl, I desperately wanted to grow up.Looking at the adults around me,
I thought that they had everything in life. They could decide how to spend their money,
what to eat for dinner, and even what time to go to bed. (That’s a big deal when you are a
child.) Of course, when I became an adult, I realized that it wasn’t quite the paradise I
thought it would be. Adulthood certainly came with many privileges, but it comes with
even greater burdens and responsibilities. From today’s vantage point, the carefree days
of childhood look better and better.
Today’s first reading reminds us that we do not bear these burdens and responsibilities
on our own. We can rely on God to meet our needs and those of the world. This does not
mean that we can sit back, doing nothing while God handles everything, for we are his
hands in the world and are called to live lives of charity and service. But we will always be
supported by God’s grace and by the efforts of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
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