Luke 7:33-34
“For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine; and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of man has come eating and drinking; and you say, ‘Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’”
G.K. Chesterton remarked long ago that when you see a thing attacked for being too round and too square, too black and too white, too fat and too thin, too tall and too short, too bad in one way and too bad in the opposite way, you may be sure that it is very good. The gospel has just this strange quality of attracting critics who, in their rush to contradict it, do not mind contradicting themselves. Jesus remarks on this weird phenomenon in today’s reading, making note of those who faulted John the Baptist as “demonic” for his asceticism while simultaneously faulting Jesus for not being ascetic. Chesterton remarked that the confused and contradictory attacks on the Faith are not because the Faith is weird and the critics are sane, but because the critics are insane and the Faith is normal.
By Mark Shea
Mark P. Shea is a Catholic author, blogger, and speaker.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO OUR READERS
Catholic Exchange is free—but it is not free to produce. Advertising revenue covers only a fraction of the cost to generate reliably Catholic commentary and news, inspiring videos, a selection of the best Catholic blogs, and daily meditations and prayers.
To give us the strength and stability we need, Catholic Exchange is turning to you—our loyal reader—and asking you to become a monthly contributor.
Whether you can give $5 or $25, $50 or $100 each month, please leave something behind so we can continue—and strengthen—this important apostolate.
We are deeply grateful for one-time gifts, but we encourage you to choose “Monthly” on the drop-down menu. Your support will ensure that Catholic Exchange will be here during this most critical moment for the Church and America.
