Perfect Attendance Record

A sixth grade teacher was trying her best to discipline a particularly mischievous student. She tried reasoning with him. She tried scolding him severely. She tried bargaining with him. Again and again she sent him to the principal’s office. Finally, she called the boy’s mother. “I’m at the point of no return with your son,” she said. “He’s out of control.” To which the mother replied, “What’s the problem?” “The problem is two-fold,” said the teacher. “Number One, his behavior is horrendous. And Number Two, he has a perfect attendance record.”

Today’s Gospel Lesson speaks to the problem that Our Lord, the Master Teacher, sometimes has with His “students”: His loyal followers, many of whom maintain perfect Church attendance records.

Matthew tells us in today’s Lesson that “In due course, John the Baptist appeared; he preached in the wilderness of Judea, and this was his message: ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand'” (Mt. 3:1-2).

“Thy Kingdom come,” we pray in the…