Advent Reflections
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2022
By Miranda Fitzpatrick ’19
The first line in this Gospel addresses a point that can be very frustrating for us. Jesus doesn’t honor John as the greatest “born among women” until after the messengers of John had departed; meaning, we often have to wait patiently for God’s praise. God does not give immediate gratification as often as we may want Him to. My mom taught me at a young age to be nice to my brother, to do nice things for him, not to expecting him to be grateful or to do nice things for me in return. She said I should be nice because it’s the right thing to do; not for praise and approval.
Jesus questions the crowds asking, “did you come to see someone dressed in fine garments”? Now we know that John “wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist,” so he certainly did not dress luxuriously. Just like the story of hearing the voice of God in the whispers, or the same way Jesus was born in a manger, we need to look for the righteous, not in the rich and luxurious, but in the manger, whispers, and, in those dressed in clothes of camel hair.
Now Jesus tells us that John is the GOAT, but this is only among those born of women. He says that even the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than John. So now we must ask ourselves, what can we do to be a part of the Kingdom of God? Because anyone who is a part of the Kingdom of God is greater even than the greatest of all time! And who doesn’t want that? Today reflect on ways that you can live to ensure that after death you will join the Kingdom of God.
Happy holidays, always remember the reason for the season.