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THE CHILDREN IN THE
MARKETPLACE
“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.’ ”
Growing up with two brothers and no
sisters, I was grateful for the family who moved in across the
street when I was in grade school. They had five daughters, the
oldest just a year younger than me. Although I enjoyed playing
Matchbox cars with my brothers and could occasionally talk my
little brother into playing Barbie with me, I knew that the
girls across the street were much more likely to play the games
I liked to play.
Just as I often played “school” with those
girls, it would have been common for the children in this
parable to play “wedding” or “funeral.” However, they didn’t
dance when they heard the flute, and they didn’t mourn when they
heard the wailing. The children in the marketplace weren’t
interested in playing at all.
Playing “funeral” or “wedding” are
reflections of John the Baptist and Jesus. The verses following
this brief parable compare the mourning of a funeral with John’s
strict lifestyle and message of repentance, while the
celebration of the wedding is compared with the lifestyle of
Jesus, who “came eating and drinking” with tax collectors and
sinners to bring abundant life for all.
We are called to participate in all facets
of life. We’ve been invited both to dance with Jesus and to
reflect and repent with John. Repentance and celebration are
both important aspects of our life of faith. During this season
of Lent, we tend to focus most on repentance. We cry and mourn
the death of Christ on Good Friday, knowing that we will
celebrate the resurrection on Easter Sunday with great joy and
dancing!
God of tears and laughter, guide our steps
as we journey through moments of mourning and moments of
dancing. Help us to turn to you, our rock and our strength, both
in repentance and in celebration of your grace and the gift of
abundant life. Amen.
The Rev. Kristin Neitzel
Associate Pastor
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