Criticism

 

Jesus said to the crowds: "To what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, 'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.'

For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, 'He is possessed by a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, 'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is vindicated by all her children." (Luke 7:31-35)

"People of this generation" were criticized by Jesus, according to Luke.  They did not dance or weep.  They were unresponsive.  In fact, they were hypocrites.  

John the Baptist and Jesus just could not win.  John didn't eat food or drink wine, so he was possessed by a demon.  Jesus did both, so he was a glutton.  The "people of this generation" witnessing both John and Jesus lacked the wisdom to understand John and Jesus.  They simply criticized both, and in a "rat-like" way tossed them both aside.

But, we don't.  We know we have planks in our eyes while others have splinters.  We know we can be hypocrites especially when we criticize others for their faults which also are our own.  

The "wise ass" is right.  The criticisms we level against others are often the things we hate most about ourselves.  Our challenge is to acknowledge our hotheadedness and then cool down.

Deacon David Pierce