"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience," (Col 3:12)

Mt 11: 16-19

Jesus said to the crowds:
"To what shall I compare this generation?
It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another,
'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance,
we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.'
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said,
'He is possessed by a demon.'
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said,
'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'
But wisdom is vindicated by her works."

Jesus says today that wisdom is vindicated by her works. Therefore, a wise person is not the one who knows a lot, but who uses this wisdom to do good things, to increase peace, joy and love. A wise person does not give in to temporary, passing moods, does not immediately believe every word, but prudently analyzes what he sees and hears in order to be able to find the truth and follow it. This is true maturity, which is based primarily on healthy reflection. What did people from today's Gospel miss? What was missing was this reflection, this maturity. They trusted only what they saw on the outside, without going deeper, without asking questions, without looking for the truth. By comparing them to children who are driven by different, often contradictory emotions and moods, Jesus shows how weak and shallow human faith is, how shallow people can have an idea about God or spiritual matters. They do not see God deeply, they do not consider their relationship with Him, but they treat Him superficially, which makes them easily scandalized, and by being scandalized by Him, they more easily distance themselves from Him in their hearts. It is said that in faith we should be as trusting as children, it is true, but this comparison cannot be applied to everything in our faith. Trust is important, but reflection is also important, mature reflection on spiritual life, and here you can no longer compare yourself to a child, because children often have no reflection at all. Maturity in faith is characterized by adults, who are composed, patient, and do not give in to emotions too easily, as these may lead to the formation of an inappropriate image of God in us, which will have a negative impact on our faith. This is the mistake of these people from today's Gospel: an incorrect image of God, built not on wisdom, not supported by reflection, but built on a shaky foundation of emotions, gossip and passing moods that change as quickly as they come to our hearts. On what do I build my image of God? Do I seek wisdom in my spiritual life, or do I have no sense of reflection that would show me the true image of God? Is my faith mature and stable or unstable and shallow? The answers to these questions can solve many problems in my spiritual life, and above all, save my heart from too hasty judgment of Jesus, who is not a glutton and a drunkard, but my Savior and Comfort.

Father Marcin Cwierz, OSPPE

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"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience," (Col 3:12)