But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’” vss. 16-17
Matthew 11:16-19
Jesus makes several references to children in his teaching ministry, having obviously observed them at their best and at their worst. He rightly holds them up as a model of faithfulness and welcomes their presence in the crowds that come to hear him. But children can be petty too, and sometimes their mocking on the playground or in the classroom can seem like bullying. They tend to form cliques and are quick to exclude those who are different. In this instance Jesus has noted the spirit of dissatisfaction that can occasionally infect them, and says that this spirit was typical of the whole generation. He would probably say the same thing about us! It seems remarkable that people who enjoy the highest standard of living that the world has ever known, who are free to travel wherever they wish, and who can indulge themselves in every inconceivable way would be so completely dissatisfied with life. Every proposal or suggestion offered by our leaders, no matter what it might be, is immediately savaged in the press and social media. We are quick to find fault, slow to cooperate, and love to spread salacious and spurious bits of news. Admittedly there are obvious societal problems, but tearing down without building up is never a solution.
Thought for the Day: How do I express my dissatisfaction?
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