Today’s epistle reading is from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans 10:11-11:2.

For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon him. For “whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.” How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: “I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.” But Isaiah is very bold and says: “I was found by those who did not seek me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for me.” But to Israel he says: “All day long I have stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

I say then, has God cast away his people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away his people whom he foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel.

Just as St. Paul teaches in today’s reading that there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, the writer under the name Ambrosiaster reminds us that God distinguishes us by our faith in him. He writes:

Paul says that in general, everyone is lumped together because of unbelief, or else exalted together because of their belief. Because apart from Christ there is no salvation in God’s presence, only punishment or death. For neither the privileges of their ancestors nor the law can do the Jews any good if they do not accept the merit and promise made to them. Neither do the Gentiles have anything to boast about in the flesh if they do not believe in Christ. Paul says that God bestows his riches not on those who believe, but on those who call upon him, so that, after believing, the mind will not cease to ask God for what it has been taught to ask the Lord for.

Today’s gospel reading is from St. Matthew 11:16-20.

“But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we mourned to you, and you did not lament.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a wine-bibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”

Then he began to rebuke the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.

In today’s reading, Jesus is saying in essence: We brought truth to you and you did not accept it; no matter who brought it to you or in what way it was brought to you, you did not accept it. St. Cyril of Alexandria expounds on the words of Jesus by saying:

When some children are dancing and others are singing a dirge, their purpose does not agree. Both sides find fault with their friends for not being in harmony with them. So the Jews underwent an experience, and they accepted neither the gloominess of John the Baptist nor the freedom of Christ. They did not receive help one way or another. It was fitting for John, as a lowly servant, to deaden the passions of the body through very hardy training, and for Christ, by the power of his Godhead, freely to mortify the sensations of the body and the innate practice of the flesh, and to do so without the reliance on strenuous ascetic labors. Nevertheless, John, while he was preaching the baptism of repentance, offered himself as a model for those who were obliged to lament; whereas the Lord who was preaching the kingdom of heaven similarly displayed radiant freedom in himself. In this way, Jesus outlined for the faithful indescribable joy and an untroubled life. The sweetness of the kingdom of heaven is like a flute; the pain of Gehenna is like a dirge.

Let us earnestly desire to seek out those who preach the Gospel of peace to us. If we respond with faith, we will receive the heavenly kingdom.

Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus to all generations for ever and ever. Amen.