2nd Week of Advent, Thursday –09th December 2021 — Gospel: Mt 11,11-15
Being Least
John is praised for preparing people to hear the message of the coming reign of God. And Jesus also mentions that those who are in the kingdom of God will be greater than John the Baptist. In a sense, Jesus is saying that John does not belong to the new era of God’s kingdom inaugurated by Jesus. While the content of John’s proclamation about the kingdom is same as that of Jesus, yet even the least in the kingdom is greater than John. The “least” in the kingdom may refer to Jesus who is “younger” than John. However, here it seems to refer to the disciples. They are greater than John because they have the privilege of seeing the inauguration of the kingdom which John was not privileged to see. They are also the ones who recognize the Messiah and point to him more clearly than John.
