Memorial of Saint Robert Bellarmine

Nevertheless, wisdom is vindicated by all her children. Luke 7:31-35

Jesus concludes his teaching by saying that sometimes, some people just don’t get it. In most cases, he seems to imply, they simply refuse to understand. And nothing can get through to turn their thinking around.

The trouble is, we don’t know who we are. “Am I one of those people who just don’t get it?” is a question we probably ought to ask ourselves with some regularity. Is my focus on seeking the truth, or is my focus on defending my own point of view? The unwillingness to seriously ask that question of ourselves is childish. We become, as Jesus says, “like children sitting in the marketplace.” Mature people, on the other hand, are self-reflective, open to reason, and willing to change their minds. They are able to see reality for what it is.

To those who would defend Jesus’ work, his opponents say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” Sadly, they don’t see that they just don’t get it. They can’t see the depth of the reality staring them in the face. All they are doing is defending themselves and all that they think is true, which they cling to despite any evidence to the contrary. They just don’t get it.

How do we tell the difference? We most probably don’t criticize Jesus as the Pharisees did.

Does my understanding of Jesus take me to a place of love and obedience to Jesus’ teaching, or to a place where I feel personally justified in watering down Jesus’ teaching?

How about today we all take a little time to ask the question, “Do I, or don’t I. What am I seeking—the truth, or defending my own point of view?”

Let Us Pray:

Dear Jesus, help us more clearly hear ourselves, that we might be more open to clearly hearing your call to seek your truth.