Thursday, December 11

“THE STRENGTH OF THE KINGDOM”

Matthew 11:11–15

“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.

Matthew 11:12 (NIV)

Jesus makes a surprising statement: John the Baptist is the greatest among those born of women. Not because of his miracles, but because of his prophetic role, his integrity, and his closeness to the Messiah. However, he adds that the least in the Kingdom is greater than he.

Jesus does not diminish John, but rather exalts the new reality of the Kingdom. Whoever has received the grace of the Gospel, even if they are “small,” shares in a fullness, in the Grace of God for all humanity.

Do you have a spiritual hunger? The Kingdom is not attained through passivity, but through ardent desire.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for opening the doors of your Kingdom to me. Thank you for seeing us as small. Grant me the fervor of the spiritually “violent,” who are not content with the superficial. May my faith be resolute, my love ardent, and my hope firm. May I, like John, prepare the way, and like the little ones, enter into your glory. Amen.

Translation by John Walter

 

 

Diciembre 11, Jueves

“La fuerza del Reino”

Mateo 11:11–15

“Desde los días de Juan el Bautista hasta ahora, el reino de los cielos sufre violencia, y los violentos lo arrebatan.”

Mateo 11:12

Jesús pronuncia una afirmación sorprendente: Juan el Bautista es el mayor entre los nacidos de mujer. No por sus milagros, sino por su papel profético, su integridad y su cercanía al Mesías. Sin embargo, añade que el más pequeño en el Reino es mayor que él.

Jesús no rebaja a Juan, sino que exalta la nueva realidad del Reino. Quien ha recibido la gracia del Evangelio, aunque sea “pequeño”, participa de una plenitud, de la Gracia de Dios para toda la humanidad.

¿Tienes hambre espiritual? El Reino no se alcanza por pasividad, sino por deseo ardiente.

Oración: Señor Jesús, gracias por abrirme las puertas de tu Reino, gracias por vernos, pequeños. Dame el fervor de los “violentos-valientes” espirituales, que no se conforman con lo superficial. Que mi fe sea decidida, mi amor ardiente y mi esperanza firme. Que, como Juan, prepare el camino, y como los pequeños, entre en tu gloria. Amén.