Advent Reflection - Friday of the Second Week of Advent

When I first read the Gospel passage from Matthew today, what immediately came to my mind is that old saying, “Damned if you do and damned if you don’t.” Judgments were made against John the Baptist for not dancing when they played the flute. Jesus was judged for eating and drinking – celebrating. Have you been in that situation, where whatever choice you made would be judged harshly? It is not an easy place to be.

The passage from Isaiah reassures us that God teaches us “what is for our good and leads us on our way.” We can be assured that if we listen to that teaching, if we follow, we will be vindicated – not necessarily in the eyes of those who judge, but in the eyes of our God. We need faith to understand and courage to hold to that truth.