Luke 7:24-30 Reflection ~
As a baptized Christian, you have heard and believed St. John, and he has prepared a way for you. By accepting and ordinarily practicing your faith, you are already on the way to becoming the least of the Kingdom of God. To think it is possible to be greater than John the Baptist seems improbable. However remarkable, it appears Jesus is referring to the justice of God inside you. If your dignity of shelter, work, and physical hunger is satisfied, Jesus wants to work through you. God would like you to help give others spiritual sight and hope and help them walk with the Good News as you have.
Saint John the Baptist Sees Jesus from Afar by James Tissot. The full-resolution painting and more detail are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Ordinary Time Reflections
Luke 7:24-30 – Scripture*
24 When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who put on fine clothing and live in luxury are in royal palaces. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written,
‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
28 I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29 (And all the people who heard this, including the tax collectors, acknowledged the justice of God, because they had been baptized with John’s baptism. 30 But by refusing to be baptized by him, the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves.)
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on Luke 7:24-30 Reflection – The Least of the Kingdom of God.
Would you like to contribute related thoughts to these Lectio reflections on the Gospel readings? Since Lectio is not the only contemplative payer style, others might appreciate these types of expressions in this ministry. Do you see God’s grandeur everywhere and unconditionally enjoy sharing the love of Christ that you have inside? Are you willing to be anonymous in what you would share? If so, email me.
Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite worldly distractions.
Attributions
*This site has permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible Luke 7 passage.
The Immersive Prayer website follows the guidelines for image web use at the Brooklyn Museum and the Jewish Museum websites.