The Nazareth Page- A gospel meditation for your home

December 14, 2025 –Third Sunday of Advent, Matthew 11 2-11

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
Download this simple process to Prepare for Sunday using the Observe, Judge, Act Method

Like last Sunday, we recall John the Baptist, the one who set the stage for the coming of Jesus. I once read that next to Jesus and Mary, John appears the most in paintings by artists depicting scenes relating to the life of Jesus. So, we should pay extra attention to how he is presented in the gospel writings. And what Jesus himself said about John.

First, Jesus agrees with those who affirm the importance of John. He described him as a messenger sent by God to prepare for the coming of Jesus. And as Jesus himself noted, among those born of women, none is greater. But then he adds these words: ”the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Once again, the gospels leads us to wonder. What are we to make of this?

In our day so many try to measure the best of this or that. And even in the time of Jesus, social and religious status meant something. Maybe this kind of calculation has always been common among we humans. We seem to evaluate others by wealth, social position, appearance, successes and so forth.

But for a moment, let us wonder how God evaluates such matters. Does God love or value  some of us more than others? Think about those great saints of the past. Don’t we think of them as closer to God? Perhaps. But then Jesus states that the least are more important than John the Baptist.

As I ponder this, I am led to question my own scales of judgment. Maybe what’s being said in today’s gospel is that we should even look on ones we don’t like as immensely loved and valued by God. Which would be in sharp contrast to the ways many of us likely think.

God’s love is without limit. Everyone is important and it is impossible for us to measure God’s love. We live, however, in a world where judgments about personal worth or value are everywhere. But with God, such comparisons are very limited guesses at best.  

So, for a change, try to think of what our forefathers wrote. All are created (by God) equal. In God’s eyes, we are all important. Everyone! No matter where their place of birth, their manner of living, their successes or failures of even their politics (seems extra important these days).   

David M. Thomas, PhD