But wisdom is justified by all her children

 Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.  And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"  When the men had come to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, 'Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?'"  And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.   Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard:  that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.  And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."

When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John:  "What did you go out into the wilderness to see?  A reed shaken by the wind?  But what did you go out to see?  A man clothed in soft garments?  Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings' courts.  But what did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.  This is he of whom it is written:

'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.'

"For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist, but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.  But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.

And the Lord said, "To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like?  They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying:

'We played the flute for you,
And you did not  dance;
We mourned to you,
And you did not weep.'

"For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.'  The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'  But wisdom is justified by all her children."

- Luke 7:18-28(29-30)31-35

 Yesterday we read that when He concluded the Sermon on the Plain (see the readings beginning on Tuesday), He entered Capernaum.  And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die.  So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant.  And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, "for he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue."  Then Jesus went with them.  And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof.  Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You.  But say to the word, and my servant will be healed.  For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me.  And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."  When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!"  And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.  Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd.  And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow.  And a large crowd from the city was with her.  When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."  Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still.  And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."  So he who was dead sat up and began to speak.  And He presented him to his mother.  Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen up among us"; and, "God has visited His people."  And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.

 Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.  And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"  When the men had come to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, 'Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?'"  And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.   Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard:  that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.  And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."   My study bible comments that John the Baptist was imprisoned shortly after the baptism of Jesus (Mark 1:14).   Although he had directed his disciples to follow Christ (John 1:29-31, 35-37), some remained with him (indeed, in the Middle East there is still a sect of those who consider themselves to be followers John the Baptist).  My study bible says that while John's own faith was no doubt strengthened by the signs performed by Jesus, patristic commentators universally see this encounter as a means used by John to convince his remaining disciples that Jesus was truly indeed the Coming One.  Jesus sites the signs prophesied regarding the time of the Messiah (see, for instance, Isaiah 35:5-6), stupendous healing signs of the presence of God with God's people.

When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John:  "What did you go out into the wilderness to see?  A reed shaken by the wind?  But what did you go out to see?  A man clothed in soft garments?  Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings' courts.  But what did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.  This is he of whom it is written:  'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.'  For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist, but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."  In another sign of the graciousness that characterizes the authority and power of Christ, He defends and praises John the Baptist.   He openly and categorically challenges those who would criticize the Baptist.  My study bible remarks regarding Jesus' last statement here that although John was the greatest prophet, his earthly life and ministry remained within the period of the old covenant.  It says that the new covenant so far surpasses the old that the least in the kingdom is greater than the greatest outside of it.  That doesn't mean that John won't be resurrected to the Kingdom, but simply that his life on earth came before something much greater.  Jesus speaks of those born of women as a way of distinguishing the past from the rebirth possible through the Holy Spirit and Christian baptism.

 And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.  But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.  In chapter 3, Luke tells us of all those who came to be baptized by John, including the tax collectors and soldiers who serve the Romans (see this reading).  My study bible refers us to Mark 11:27-33, in which Jesus challenged the religious leaders regarding the baptism of John, and they were afraid to reply.

And the Lord said, "To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like?  They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying:  'We played the flute for you, and you did not  dance; we mourned to you, and you did not weep.'  For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.'  The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'"  Jesus refers to a children's game, which was played in two groups.  One group would mimic musicians, while the other would refuse to respond appropriately to which music was being played:  for mourning or for dancing.  My study bible calls the Pharisees so rigid in their religion that they were not able to respond to and engage the world around them, even as God is present in the ministries of both the Baptist and of Christ.  The Pharisees rejected John as being too mournful and ascetic, while Christ they called too merciful and joyous.

"But wisdom is justified by all her children."  My study bible comments here that in spite their rejection by the Pharisees, both John and Christ are justified -- but not by the opinions of men; rather they are justified by their children, those who would come to believe and be faithful.  Children can also be used as a metaphor for the fruits of wisdom, the Holy Spirit of God at work in the world and through those who serve the broader, fuller, deeper Church built by the Spirit through the faithful (see John 14:15-18, 26).

There are times in life when we will observe a person who can't help but criticize.  It really doesn't matter what we -- or the object of their criticism -- will do, there will always be a "bad word" for what we are doing.  So it seems it is with the Pharisees for both Christ and John the Baptist.   Jesus illumines the illogic of their criticism; John is criticized for being to ascetic, and Christ is criticized for being too joyous.  But it is important that we understand that "wisdom is justified by all her children."  It should be understood, first of all, that wisdom is female because the Greek word for wisdom is a feminine word:  sophia.  There are important churches named for Holy Wisdom, as for example the grandest cathedral in the world for a thousand years, Saint Sophia (or Hagia Sophia in the Greek)  built in what was then called Constantinople in 537.  Holy Wisdom, however, refers to Christ, and all the things which the Spirit "will bring to your remembrance" to illuminate for all of us (John 14:36).  It is this wisdom which also spoke through the prophets and the Scriptures of the Old Testament, the Lord of Israel.   Wisdom may one day tell us one thing is proper, and at another time instruct us in a different way that is appropriate.  In the Church, there are seasons of fasting and penance, and seasons of joy and feasting.  John the Baptist was the model for all ascetics, practicing a kind of poverty that left room only for God in his life.  But Christ is the Bridegroom, and while He was with us was a time of joy -- and as He said, His disciples would later fast (5:33-35).  There are times when one thing is appropriate -- and at another time we may be guided with the opposite instructions, and yet both remain "children of wisdom."  There was a time for Christ to keep the secret of His identity hidden -- and there was a time when it was supposed to be revealed.  For three years of His ministry, He avoided the death the authorities desired for Him.  But at the appropriate time, which He called His hour of glory, He went voluntarily and for the good of all.  This is the understanding that we gain from the Gospels.  Our faith is not an abstract set of values which we simply follow like rules which are always to be applied.  Rather, the Spirit of Christ is one that encourages us to discernment.  In an instruction seemingly paradoxical, Jesus instructs His disciples as He sends them out on a mission, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16).  Learning our own mission in life can be as seemingly paradoxical if we have not understood the nature of wisdom, and the discernment that is asked of us.  Wisdom asks of us all to be on a particular mission, and those who cannot perceive of her demands will never understand the faith of Christ.  All people may be equal, but all do not equally grasp the things of wisdom, and we are also warned not to give what is holy to the dogs, nor cast our pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6).  All matters require discernment, and discernment can only come from prayer and the practice of faith.   There are times to embrace a brother, and times to keep silence with those who will turn and trample us under their feet and tear us to pieces (see again Matthew 7:6).  We have a living faith to learn, one which demands that we keep learning and growing in its wisdom -- each new turn in that path is justified; let us learn to live in such a way that we too are wisdom's children.