Daily Catholic Lectio
Friday, 15 December 2023
Second Week of Advent – Friday
Isaiah 48:17-19. Matthew 11:16-19
Teacher and leader
In the first reading, the Lord God presents himself as a teacher and a leader to the people of Israel. He points out to them the merits and demerits of learning from him and listening to him.
In many places in the Bible, God reveals his identity as a father and a mother. Here, he reveals his mission: ‘I teach you,’ ‘I lead you.’ In Deut 6, the Lord God insists that the people of Israel must teach one another; in Deut 8, he reminds them about how he led the people of Israel.
A teacher passes on his or her knowledge to the learner, and a leader shows the way to the follower. Teaching and leading have their fulfilment in being listened to.
The merits of listening to God’s voice are: (i) Their life will be fruitful; (ii) They will be victorious; and (iii) Their offspring will multiply.
Failing to listen to God will lead to disaster. The people of Israel, because of their disobedience, were led into Babylonian exile.
In the gospel reading, Jesus, who realises that the ministry of John the Baptist and his ministry were not being accepted by his own contemporaries, uses a metaphor to describe the attitude of the people of his time. They were like children, constantly changing rules and being concerned about their own pleasures.
In the end, Jesus concludes, ‘Wisdom is vindicated by her works.’ Those who accept Jesus as wisdom have their actions aligned with him.
In the Messianic reading, the people of Israel reject the Lord God. The people of Jesus’ time rejected him and his forerunner, John the Baptist. At incarnation, God’s wisdom becomes a human person. Those who accept him reap the fruits of life.
The readings of the day offer us the following lessons:
(a) The Lord God teaches us and leads us. It is necessary that we submit ourselves to him so that we are taught by him and led by him.
(b) At times when we need to act on life’s priorities, we tend to make excuses, as the children do. We are afraid of pain, as children are. But pain pushes us towards our destiny. Pain is the companion of life. Those who take pain move on, and those who avoid it remain where they are.
(c) Our prejudices and fears form an iron curtain between others and us. Through generosity of heart and magnanimity of mind, we can break this curtain and reach another.
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‘Wisdom is a breath of the power of God and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; therefore, nothing defiled gains entrance into her. For she is a reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness.’ (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 2500).
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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