Advent
Yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Matthew 11:11
In today’s Gospel, Jesus praises John the Baptist as the greatest of the Old Testament prophets. Yet, Jesus adds this enigmatic comment, “yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Is Jesus downplaying John’s status?
Rather, Jesus is shifting our focus away from John onto himself and us. As great as the Old Testament is, and the holy men and women who are featured in it, this holiness is a pale reflection of the overwhelming glory of Jesus and the Kingdom of God. I often think of how our human minds have so little grasp of the glory of God that we will encounter in the Kingdom. We simply cannot imagine the infinite beauty, love and sanctity that is God.
You and I are so very privileged, through the person of Jesus, to be offered a place in that Kingdom. We will spend an eternity giving thanks to God, and even that will not be enough.
Msgr. Stephen J. Rossetti
Originally published December 11, 2022
