+ As the old saying goes: “You are damned if you do, and you are damned if you don’t.
Or in other words, “You just can’t win.”
Jesus almost sounds exasperated in today’s Gospel because quite frankly, these people were just not open to anything or anyone.
John was too austere.
Jesus was too open and welcoming — even of drunks and sinners.
Who would they listen to? Who could reach them?
Here once again the truth gets revealed; they have eyes, but see not. They have ears, but hear not.
The children of the streets playing share more wisdom and truth than they.
And Paul equally warns that all should behave in the household of God and that they should be sure to recognize and live as the faith-filled people they have been called to be.
And, no doubt, Sts. Andrew Kim and Paul Chong could echo the same words of Paul and Jesus.
For as a priest and a catechist and their companion martyrs, they, too, were ignored, not accepted, and ultimately martyred because of their faith.
The ultimate rejection.
Father Perry Dean Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com.
