Hospitality for Prophets

Gospel: Matthew 17: 10-13

John the Baptist came in the tradition of the prophets inviting people to repentance and providing baptism as a means of cleansing from sin.  John, like prophets before him, was rejected and eventually executed by an unholy alliance between religion and the state.  The message of repentance is one that few wish to hear and carry out in their own lives.

Jesus mourns the death of John, and he is aware that a similar fate awaits him as his message and invitation to a life of mercy toward others will receive a similar rejection.  People will show infinite mercy towards themselves but none for others.  The meals of reconciliation will be continually rejected by religious authorities throughout Jesus' ministry.

It is a common theme throughout religion that prophets, saints, and the Messiah himself are rejected by religious and secular authorities because the message of repentance and mercy are continually opposed.  In our own times Dorothy Day and Oscar Romero were vilified by religious and secular authorities and persecuted, only now to be raised to the altars as saints in later days.  

Advent is a time to work against this cycle in our own hearts and to accept the messages of repentance and mercy in our own lives and times.  This acceptance is preparing the way for the Lord, to make the road by walking on it.