The Least in the Kingdom is Greater Than John"
Today's Mass Readings
To understand today’s gospel reading (Luke 7:31-35), it is important that one read the passage beginning with Luke 7:18. John the Baptist sends his disciples to ask Jesus if he was indeed the Messiah. Characteristic of Jesus, he does not give a direct answer. Rather, he gives them a testimony of his activities. The presumption here is that John would be able to discern the correct answer from Jesus’ testimony. Once John leaves, Jesus goes on to praise John for his ministry. Jesus’ praise indicates that John has fulfilled his mission of “preparing the way of the Lord” (Luke 7:27) well. No wonder then that Jesus comments, “… among those born of women, no one is greater than John…” (28). But Jesus adds another significant detail: “…Yet the least in the Kingdom is greater than he” (29).
Today’s gospel reading follows immediately after this passage. On the one hand John’s ministry is contrasted with Jesus. John was an ascetic and he was rejected by the religious leaders of his time. Jesus in contrast often sat in table fellowship with those in need of repentance and God’s compassion. They rejected him as well. However, it is significant that Jesus ends by saying, “But wisdom has vindicated her children” (35). In other words, John and Jesus are identified as the children of wisdom. “The people of this generation…” (33), on the other hand, will not have it either way. They rejected the works of John and they rejected the works of Jesus. That is not wise, that is foolish.
For our reflection today, Jesus words, “…Yet the least in the Kingdom is greater than he” (29) is important. Greatness in the Kingdom is determined not by might works but by one’s openness to the works of Jesus. John dedicated his life to his mission of preparing the way for Jesus. The people of Jesus’ generation closed themselves to the works of Jesus.
Today, what will it take for Jesus to call us “the least in the Kingdom?” How can we be open to the works of Jesus today? By preparing the way for Jesus the way John did. Whatever place I go today and whoever I meet today, Jesus should find that place and person ready for him, even the "people of this generation."