Posted by The WORD in other words (2022) by Fr Dante Barril SVD (Rome)
Monday 2nd Week of Advent
The Gospel informs that while Jesus was teaching, “Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there…”. Sitting is a position of authority. So that the mention of the presence of Jesus’ “seated visitors” hints how the episode is a story about authority – that of the “seated ones” and that of the Son of Man.
It is noteworthy that the “seated ones” were baffled by the brashness of the Son of Man. Surely, they must have started to feel uncomfortable on their “seats.” However, something beautiful happened at the end. For it is reported that “astonishment seized them ALL and they glorified God!” The “seated ones,” at this moment, lost their “poise.” We could imagine them abandon their stoic, indifferent, and dignified seated position for one of awe and praise, and with the crowds exclaim, “We have seen incredible things today!”
So, I encourage you to recollect those moments in your life when “you leaped out of your seat” for joy, praise, and thanksgiving to him, whose advent means unending surprises.
So, as we are grateful for the many surprises that we have been gifted with, we are at the same time sent by the power of the Holy Spirit to “get people out of their seats” to exclaim, “we have seen incredible things today!”
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