Matthew 11:11-15

Lectio (Reading)

Jesus said to the crowds:
“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.
From the days of John the Baptist until now,
the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence,
and the violent are taking it by force.
All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John.
And if you are willing to accept it,
he is Elijah, the one who is to come.
Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

Meditatio (Reflecting)

From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

Oratio (Responding)

This passage is one of those “Hard Sayings” of Jesus, that seems difficult to understand. How does the kingdom of Heaven suffer violence? violence seems antitheitical to the divine order of the Lord, and how does He suffer anything? Well once again we need to look to the wisdom of the church fathers. Here is what St. Hilary of Poitiers wrote about this line:

Earlier expectations are being torn apart. The glory that was pledged to Israel by the patriarchs, which was announced by the prophets and which was offered by Christ, is now being seized and carried off by the Gentiles, through their faith.

All of the prophecy that proceeded John the baptist, pointed to the arrival of the messiah in Christ Jesus. Much of the prophecy also has a double meaning fortelling what will happen at the end of time as well. But there is no doubt that the moment of Jesus’ arrival on the scene, was the complete fulfillment of what the prophets foretold.

But who were the keepers of this knowledge? it was not the average jew, and it certainly was not the gentiles. The keepers were the Pharisees and Saducees, but they did not recognize the messiah, in fact, they rejected Him, and ultimately even murdered Him on the cross. But when Jesus arrives, the people are the ones that recognize Him, and love Him and follow Him, and it is because of that faith, apart from all of the knowledge of the temple leaders, they are in affect “violently” pushing their way to the front of the line, and will indeed enter the Kingdom before those Church leaders.

The Jews were the chosen people, and for all time they were desitined to be the “stump” from which the messiah would come out of, and they ultimately would have the privledged, place of honor when the Lord returned to them. But instead they had become complacent, and comfortable in their positions of power, and authority. And so the plan that God had for the people of isreal, is now being torn apart, and the gentiles are the ones that will be fulfilling the role that the Jews were supposed to, from the beginning.

So the message for us in this reading today, is that we should not put all of our faith, and hope, in the rule and order of the church, especially in times of great tummult and confusion (like today). But instead, focus fully on our faith, and on reconcilliation with God. Stay close to the Lord, frequent the sacraments, and if you have sin on your heart, take it to confession. This is called being in a state of grace, and if you can maintain this state in your life, until you die, then you too, may steal your way into Heaven and an eternity of joy and peace with the lord forever. I sincerely wish this for all of God’s people.

Contemplatio (Contemplating)

Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.

Resolutio (Resolving)