Thursday of the Second week of Advent

Commentary of the day
Isaac the Syrian (7th century), monk near Mosul
Ascetical discourses, 1st series, no. 19

The violence that seizes the Kingdom

May nothing prevent you any longer from uniting yourself to Christâ€¦ Pray without ceasing, implore with your whole heart, beg fervently until you receive. Don't give yourself any break. These things will be given you if, first of all, you strive with all your faith to entrust your cares to God and exchange your own foresight with God's providence. When he sees your good will, when he sees that in all purity of heart you have entrusted yourself to him rather than to yourself and are striving to hope in him rather than in your own soul, then this strength will come, unknown to you, to make its dwelling within you. Then you will feel in every sense the strength of the one who is unquestionably with you. Thanks to this strength many enter the fire and fear not, walk on the waters and waver not.

No corpus on the Cross? How ecumenical!

Jacob did not cease to be a Saint because he had to attend to his flocks.

St. Teresa of Avila

The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of
our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

"Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Lk 1:28)

"Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb"
(Lk 1:42).

I never liked it either.

Information: St. Gregory III

Feast Day: December 10

Died: 741

Holy Spirit Interactive Kids: A Saint a Day

St. John Roberts

Feast Day: December 10
Born: 1575 :: Died: 1610

John was born in Wales to Anna and John Roberts. Although he was not a Catholic, he was taught by an elderly priest and at heart he was always a Catholic.

John went to Oxford University in England for a few years before going to study law. He then took a trip to France to have a good time. But his trip turned out to be more than fun.

It was in Paris, France, that another Englishman who was Catholic had great influence on him and John found great happiness in joining the Catholic Church.

John lost no time after this in taking steps to become a priest. He went to an English college in Spain and became a Benedictine monk.

Then his great dream of going back to England came true three years later when he and another monk were given permission to go. They knew the dangers they would face because Catholics were not welcome there, especially not priests.

In fact, they did not have long to wait before trouble began. They entered England wearing plumed hats and swords at their sides. But soon they were arrested for being priests and sent out of the country.

St. John Roberts managed to return to England again. He worked day and night to keep the Catholic faith alive during Queen Elizabeth's terrible persecution. Several times he was captured, put in prison, and exiled, yet he always returned.

The last time Father John was arrested, he was finishing Mass. This time there was no escape. When asked, he boldly said that he was a priest and a monk.

He explained that he had come to England to work for the salvation of the people. "Were I to live longer," he added, "I would continue to do what I have been doing." St. John was then condemned to death.

The night before he was to be hanged, a good Spanish lady arranged for him to have supper with eighteen other prisoners. They were also suffering for Christ's sake.

During their supper together, St. John was full of joy. Then he thought perhaps he should not show so much happiness. "Do you think I may be giving bad example by my joy?" he asked his hostess.

"No, certainly not," she replied. "You could not do anything better than to let everyone see the cheerful courage you have as you are about to die for Christ."

The next day, St. John was hanged. The crowds were so attracted by the personality of this young priest that they did not let the executioners make him suffer. St. John Roberts was martyred in 1610.

Today, let us pray for all of the dedicated men and women who boldly spend their lives to bring Jesus and the good news of salvation to others.

CATHOLIC ALMANAC

Thursday, December 10

Liturgical Color: Violet

Today the Church honors St. Miltiades,
pope. Born in Africa, he reigned from 311
to 314 A.D. During his pontificate, the
emperor Constantine, after the vision "in
hoc signo vinces," issued his decree of
tolerance for the Christian Faith.

Catholic Culture

Advent: December 10th

Thursday of the Second Week of Advent

MASS READINGS

December 10, 2015 (Readings on USCCB website)

COLLECT PRAYER

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the paths of your Only Begotten Son, that through his coming, we may be found worthy to serve you with minds made pure. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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Ecclesia in Africa | Pope John Paul II

Old Calendar: St. Melchiades, pope and martyr; St. Eulalia (Hist)

St. Melchiades "who suffered much during the persecution of Maximianus; when at last peace was restored to the Church, died in the Lord." He was an African whom St. Augustine calls "the true child of the peace of Jesus Christ." He ruled the Church of God in the last period of the Christian persecution from 311-314; hence the title of martyr is applied to him in a wider sense. His was the good fortune of witnessing the beginning of an era of peace, for in 312 the Emperor Constantine granted freedom to the Church. Today is his feast on the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite calendar.

Historically today is the feast of the martyr, St. Eulalia who was a native of Merida, in Spain.

Jesse Tree ~ Jesse

St. Melchiades (also known as St. Miltiades)
Two popes had been exiled by Emperor Maxentius, and for nearly two more years the Church in Rome was steeped in turmoil, making it impossible to choose a pope. Finally Miltiades, an African, was elected. He had served as a priest under Marcellinus during the terrible Diocletian persecution. Now, however, he witnessed the effects of a kinder, more generous Roman government. Indeed, the Church would actually be favored with splendid gifts. By 311 the Church began to enjoy a peace resulting from a decree of toleration issued in both the East and the West. Emperor Maxentius ordered the properties of the Church restored. These included the land and buildings that had been confiscated during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. In 312 for the first time since the outbreak of persecution, a pope was able to preside over the celebration of Easter in full possession of the Church's holy assets.

Pope Miltiades worked diligently in a difficult time of transition. His edicts included forbidding the Christians to fast on Thursday and Sunday (the days during which the pagans kept their fasts) and directing that the Eucharist plate blessed by the bishop be carried to the various churches.

Constantine, having been proclaimed emperor in Gaul, now marched on Rome. The sign of the cross had been revealed to him in a vision where he was told that "by this sign shalt thou conquer." Constantine ordered his standards changed, and for the first time in history, the sign of peace was borne by an army. Constantine's legions defeated Maxentius, and the year 312 ushered in a new era, an era of peace; the Christians were truly set free. During the emperor's stay in Rome, the famous Lateran palace was given to Pope Miltiades by Fausta, Constantine's wife. The Lateran served as the papal residence for some four hundred years.

Less than a year later, a schism broke out in North Africa. Headed by a rigorist named Donatus, the faction objected to the policies of the bishop of Carthage, Caecilian. Bypassing the pope, they appealed directly to Constantine to intervene. The emperor, annoyed that he should be called on to settle disputes among the clergy, commissioned Miltiades and three other Gallic bishops to rectify the matter. The pope gathered fifteen additional bishops and held a synod in the great Lateran palace. The decision of this synod was to condemn Donatus and his party and to support the true bishop, Caecilian. The Donatists (as they later became called) appealed again to Constantine, but by the time another council could be called, Pope Miltiades had died.

St. Miltiades was an excellent pontiff who guided the Church wisely during a difficult time of changeover. Pope Miltiades was the last pope to be buried in a catacomb in the cemetery of Calixtus. His feast is celebrated December 10.

Excerpted from The Popes: A Papal History, J.V. Bartlett

St. Eulalia
St. Eulalia descended from one of the most prominent families in Spain. She was educated in the Christian religion and was taught the sentiments of perfect piety. From her infancy she distinguished herself by an admirable sweetness of temper, modesty and devotion.

She showed a great love of the holy state of virginity, and by her seriousness and her contempt of dress, ornaments diversions and worldly company, she gave early signs of her sincere desire to lead a heavenly life on earth. Her heart was raised above the world before she was thought capable of knowing it, so that its amusements, which usually fill the minds of youth, had no charms for her, and every day of her life she continued to grow in virtue.

She was just twelve years old when the bloody edicts of the Emporer Diocletian were issued, by which it was ordered that all persons, without exception of age, sex, or profession, should be compelled to offer sacrifice to the gods of the empire.

Eulalia, although young, took the publication of this order as a sign of battle, but her mother, observing her impatient ardor for martyrdom, carried her into the country. However, the young saint quickly found a means to make her escape by night, and after much fatigue, arrived at Merida before daybreak.

That same morning, as soon as the court convined, she presented herself before the cruel judge, whose name was Dacian, and reproached him with impiety in attempting to destroy souls by compelling them to renounce the only true God.

The governor then commanded her to be seized. First, employing caresses, Dacian presented to her the advantages which her birth, youth and fortune gave her in the world, and the grief which her disobedience would bring to her parents. Seeing that these temptations had no effect, he began to threaten her, placing the most cruel instruments of torture before her eyes, saying to her, "All this you shall escape if you will but touch a little salt and frankincense with the tip of your finger."

Provoked at these seducing flatteries, she threw down the idol, trampled upon the cake which was laid for the sacrifice and spat at the judge -- an action only to be excused by her youth and inattention under the influence of a warm zeal, and fear of the snares which were laid before her.

Upon the judge's order, two executioners began to tear her tender sides with iron hooks, so as to leave the very bones bare. While this was happening, she called the strokes the trophies of Christ. Next, lighted torches were applied to her breasts and sides: under which torment, instead of groans, nothing was heard from her mouth but thanksgivings. The fire at length catching her hair, surrounded her head and face, and the saint was stifled by the smoke and flame.

History says that a white dove seemed to come out of her mouth, and to wing its way upward when the holy martyr expired: at which prodigy the executioners were so much terrified that they fled and left the body.

Her relics are kept with great veneration at Oviedo, where she is honored as patroness. The Roman Martyrology mentions her name on December 10.

Excerpted from Butler's Lives of the Saints

Things to Do:

View this short YouTube video of the Fiesta of St. Eulalia in El Ramu, Spain to see how devotion to this saint is still celebrated.

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Isaiah 41:13-20

2nd Week of Advent

… that all may see and know, observe and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this. (Isaiah 41:20)

Imagine going to a museum filled with paintings and sculptures from well-known artists. Would you hear those around you marveling at the companies that provided the paint to the artists? Would they be examining the pedestal holding that statue with great interest? Not likely. Usually, we pay much more attention to the artist who produced the work than the tools they used. In a similar way, as we contemplate the canvas of the day before us, let’s make sure we focus on God’s handiwork right before our eyes.

Throughout their history, the people of Israel had become a portrait of God’s power, compassion, and dedication. God had promised that if they followed his laws, they would become a living testimony to the nations around them that he was mighty and had authority to do great things. Even these foreign people would come to recognize God and want to join the Israelites in worshipping and obeying him. Now, it didn’t always happen that way, but this was God’s plan, and he never stopped helping his people embrace it!

Just the same, God has worked in countless ways in our lives, and he wants us to respond by following him and becoming our own portrait of his goodness. It can be hard sometimes to recognize—or remember—his work, but it’s there. Perhaps he has whispered words of affirmation in the middle of Mass. Maybe a fortunate coincidence really was a God-incidence. Even a stern word of rebuke from a friend can be God’s voice turning us from a destructive path!

Sometimes we can be so caught up in the moment that we lose sight of this bigger picture. But Advent can be an especially good time to look back over our lives to see where “the hand of the Lord” has been at work (Isaiah 41:20). He is a master painter, and we ought to be in awe of the work he is doing in us. Even if we can’t see it fully right now, we can still trust that he is transforming us into a masterpiece of his grace and mercy.

“Father, I give you permission to keep working in me. I want to be a testimony to your love!”

Psalm 145:1, 9-13
Matthew 11:11-15

Marriage = One Man and One Woman Until Death Do Us Part

Daily Marriage Tip for December 10, 2015:

Have you set up your Christmas tree yet? The USCCB website has a beautiful blessing for the Christmas tree that is well-suited for family prayer. www.usccb.org/advent

Regnum Christi

A Kingdom for the Violent?

U. S. A. | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

December 10, 2015. Thursday of the Second Week of Advent

By Father Walter Schu, LC

Matthew 11:11-15

Jesus said to the crowds: “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe in your presence here with me as I humbly kneel before you to do you homage and praise you. I long for the reward you have promised to those who love you with undivided hearts. My heart is not at peace until it rests in you.

Petition: Lord, help me to long for and strive for the inexpressible joy of heaven.

1. None Greater Than John: In a phrase tinged with admiration, Christ pays St. John the Baptist the highest of compliments: “Among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist.” And Christ reveals why: He is the last of the prophets, the one who brings the age of the law and the prophets to a close. But he is even more. He is Elijah, the one sent before the promised Messiah to prepare the way for him. Then comes an unexpected reversal: “Yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Do not Christ’s words awaken in our hearts an ardent longing for heaven? What else could matter in life but to arrive there, where the least of us will be greater than the greatest one on this earth?

2. Longing for Heaven: How much do we really desire to reach our final goal? Does our attitude sometimes reflect St. Augustine’s during the process of his conversion, before he received the final, definitive grace of entrusting his life entirely to God? Do we not have to confess that we often say to God, “Lord, please bring me to heaven—but not yet!”? St. Cyprian reflects on this phenomenon in one of his homilies: “How unreasonable it is to pray that God’s will be done, and then not promptly obey it when he calls us from this world! Instead we struggle and resist like self-willed slaves and are brought into the Lord’s presence with sorrow and lamentation, not freely consenting to our departure, but constrained by necessity. And yet we expect to be rewarded with heavenly honors by him to whom we come against our will!”

3. The Kingdom of Heaven Suffers Violence: A true longing for heaven is necessary, because it is not easy to arrive there. Christ assures us, “The kingdom of heaven suffers violence.” What does Our Lord mean by this enigmatic affirmation? Surely he does not intend to contradict his own new commandment of love? The “violence” Christ speaks of must be done exclusively to ourselves. In order to ascend the heights of holiness we need to follow in the footsteps of St. John the Baptist, dying to our earthly tendencies. Am I prepared to renounce what often seems most intimately a part of me? Can I beg the Lord for humility? “That others may be more loved than I. That others may be called to occupy posts and I may be forgotten. That others may be preferred to me in everything. Lord Jesus, make this my prayer” (from Litany of Humility, traditional prayer).

Conversation with Christ: Lord, you are showing me that heaven is not for the weak and the soft, but for those who are strong in dying to themselves and living for you and for souls. Help me to grow in fortitude in order to win heaven.

Resolution: Today, when I experience something painful or difficult, I will offer up the unpleasantness to God, knowing it is nothing in comparison to the reward of heaven that awaits me.

Homily of the Day

December 10, 2015

With the sin of Adam and Eve at the Garden, pain and suffering entered man’s world: “Cursed be the soil because of you!Â In suffering you will provide food for yourself from it, all the days of your life. . . With sweat on your face you will eat your bread, until you return to clay.” (Gn 3: 17b â€“ 19a) And to the woman, “I will increase your suffering in childbearing and you will give birth to your children in pain. You will be dependent on your husband and he will lord it over you.” (Gn 3: 16)

But from the beginning God gave man hope, “I will make you enemies, you and the woman, your offspring and her offspring. He will crush your head and you will strike his heel.” (Gn 3: 15)

The birth of John the Baptist and the birth of Christ initiated the fulfilment of God’s promise of redemption.

In the Gospel reading, Jesus praises John the Baptist: “no one greater than John the Baptist has come forward among the sons of women.” When his birth was announced, the angel said, “This son of yours will be great in the eyes of the Lord.” (Lk 1: 15)

At John’s birth, Zechariah prophesied, “And you, my child, shall be called prophet of the Most High, for you shall go before the Lord to prepare the way for him and enable his people to know of their salvation when he comes to forgive their sins.” (Lk 1: 76 -77)

Jesus himself said, “What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. For John is the one foretold in Scripture in these words: I am sending my messenger ahead of you to prepare your ways.” (Lk 7: 26 â€“ 27)

John’s greatness is seen in his humble appreciation of himself, “I baptize you with water, but the one who is coming will do much more: he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. As for me, I am not worthy to untie his sandal.” (Lk 3: 18)

Yet Jesus said: “the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” The disciples and each one of us have been called to the kingdom of God which has come upon us in the ministry of Jesus while John merely announced the coming of the kingdom. Blessed be God who has blessed us so much!

One Bread, One Body

Language: English | EspaÃ±ol

All Issues > Volume 32, Issue 1

<< Thursday, December 10, 2015 >>

Isaiah 41:13-20
View Readings

Psalm 145:1, 9-13

Matthew 11:11-15
Similar Reflections

IN THE "I" OF THE STORM

"I am the Lord, your God, Who grasp your right hand." â€”Isaiah 41:13

As long as the great I AM is Lord of your life, you have no reason to fear the storms of life (Is 41:13-14). Even if you feel as weak and worthless as a worm or maggot, the great I AM can make you so powerful that you will crush mountains (Is 41:14-15). If you submit your "I" to the I AM, He will open up rivers and springs in the desert to remove your afflictions and provide for your needs (Is 41:17-18). The desert of the "I," ego, and self will be transformed into the life-giving forest of the I AM (see Is 41:19) â€” if we die to "I" to live for Him (Lk 9:23).

The main problem in life is that many of us try to solve our problems ourselves. Without Jesus, the great I AM (Jn 8:24, 28, 58), we can do nothing (Jn 15:5). "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not" (Prv 3:5). "Rely not on your wealth; say not: 'I have the power.' Rely not on your strength in following the desires of your heart" (Sir 5:1-2). "Commit to the Lord your way; trust in Him, and He will act" (Ps 37:5). The worst mistake you can make is to try to "do it yourself." The best thing you can do is to "let it be done" to you according to God's Word (Lk 1:38). The "I's have it," that is, the problems. The I AM alone has the answers. Die to "I"; live for the I AM.

Prayer: Father, not my will but Yours be done (Mt 26:39).

Promise: "I solemnly assure you, history has not known a man born of woman greater than John the Baptizer. Yet the least born into the kingdom of God is greater than he." â€”Mt 11:11

Praise: William and Ann let God back in their troubled marriage. Jesus increased their love and joy, and gave them the grace to overcome their troubles.

Matthew
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Matthew 11
11.	Amen I say to you, there hath not risen among them that are born of women a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is the lesser in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.	Amen dico vobis, non surrexit inter natos mulierum major Joanne Baptista : qui autem minor est in regno cÃ¦lorum, major est illo.	Î±Î¼Î·Î½ Î»ÎµÎ³Ï‰ Ï…Î¼Î¹Î½ Î¿Ï…Îº ÎµÎ³Î·Î³ÎµÏÏ„Î±Î¹ ÎµÎ½ Î³ÎµÎ½Î½Î·Ï„Î¿Î¹Ï‚ Î³Ï…Î½Î±Î¹ÎºÏ‰Î½ Î¼ÎµÎ¹Î¶Ï‰Î½ Î¹Ï‰Î±Î½Î½Î¿Ï… Ï„Î¿Ï… Î²Î±Ï€Ï„Î¹ÏƒÏ„Î¿Ï… Î¿ Î´Îµ Î¼Î¹ÎºÏÎ¿Ï„ÎµÏÎ¿Ï‚ ÎµÎ½ Ï„Î· Î²Î±ÏƒÎ¹Î»ÎµÎ¹Î± Ï„Ï‰Î½ Î¿Ï…ÏÎ±Î½Ï‰Î½ Î¼ÎµÎ¹Î¶Ï‰Î½ Î±Ï…Ï„Î¿Ï… ÎµÏƒÏ„Î¹Î½
12.	And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent bear it away.	A diebus autem Joannis BaptistÃ¦ usque nunc, regnum cÃ¦lorum vim patitur, et violenti rapiunt illud.	Î±Ï€Î¿ Î´Îµ Ï„Ï‰Î½ Î·Î¼ÎµÏÏ‰Î½ Î¹Ï‰Î±Î½Î½Î¿Ï… Ï„Î¿Ï… Î²Î±Ï€Ï„Î¹ÏƒÏ„Î¿Ï… ÎµÏ‰Ï‚ Î±ÏÏ„Î¹ Î· Î²Î±ÏƒÎ¹Î»ÎµÎ¹Î± Ï„Ï‰Î½ Î¿Ï…ÏÎ±Î½Ï‰Î½ Î²Î¹Î±Î¶ÎµÏ„Î±Î¹ ÎºÎ±Î¹ Î²Î¹Î±ÏƒÏ„Î±Î¹ Î±ÏÏ€Î±Î¶Î¿Ï…ÏƒÎ¹Î½ Î±Ï…Ï„Î·Î½
13.	For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John:	Omnes enim prophetÃ¦ et lex usque ad Joannem prophetaverunt :	Ï€Î±Î½Ï„ÎµÏ‚ Î³Î±Ï Î¿Î¹ Ï€ÏÎ¿Ï†Î·Ï„Î±Î¹ ÎºÎ±Î¹ Î¿ Î½Î¿Î¼Î¿Ï‚ ÎµÏ‰Ï‚ Î¹Ï‰Î±Î½Î½Î¿Ï… Ï€ÏÎ¿ÎµÏ†Î·Ï„ÎµÏ…ÏƒÎ±Î½
14.	And if you will receive it, he is Elias that is to come.	et si vultis recipere, ipse est Elias, qui venturus est.	ÎºÎ±Î¹ ÎµÎ¹ Î¸ÎµÎ»ÎµÏ„Îµ Î´ÎµÎ¾Î±ÏƒÎ¸Î±Î¹ Î±Ï…Ï„Î¿Ï‚ ÎµÏƒÏ„Î¹Î½ Î·Î»Î¹Î±Ï‚ Î¿ Î¼ÎµÎ»Î»Ï‰Î½ ÎµÏÏ‡ÎµÏƒÎ¸Î±Î¹
15.	He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.	Qui habet aures audiendi, audiat.	Î¿ ÎµÏ‡Ï‰Î½ Ï‰Ï„Î± Î±ÎºÎ¿Ï…ÎµÎ¹Î½ Î±ÎºÎ¿Ï…ÎµÏ„Ï‰

11. Verily I say to you, Among them that are born of women there had not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

CHRYS; Having first delivered the Prophet's testimony in praise of John, He rested not there; but added His own decision respecting him, saying, Among them that are born of women there has not arisen a greater than John the Baptist.

RABAN; As much as to say; What need to recount one by one the praises of John the Baptist; I say verily to you, Among them that are born of women &c. He says women, not virgins. If the same word mulier, which denotes a married person, is any where in the Gospels applied to Mary, it should be known that the translator has there used 'mulier' for 'femina'; as in that, Woman, behold your son!

JEROME; He is then set before all those that are born in wedlock, and not before Him who was born of the Virgin and the Holy Spirit; yet these words, there has not arisen a greater than John the Baptist, do not imply that John is to be set above the Prophets and Patriarchs and all others, but only makes him equal to the rest; for it does not follow that because others are not greater than him, that therefore he is greater than others.

PSEUDO-CHRYS; But seeing that righteousness has so great deepness that none can be perfect therein but God only, I suppose that all the saints tried by the keenness of the divine judgment, rank in a fixed order, some lower, some before other. Whence we understand that He that has none greater than Himself, is greater than all.

CHRYS; That the abundance of this praise might not beget a wrong inclination in the Jews to set John above Christ, he corrects this, saying, He that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

AUG; The heretic argues from this verse to prove, that since John did not belong to the kingdom of heaven, therefore much less did the other Prophets of that people, than whom John is greater. But these words of the Lord may be understood in two ways. Either the kingdom of heaven is something which we have not yet received, that, namely, of which He speaks, Come, you blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom, because they in it are Angels, therefore the least among them is greater than a righteous man who has a corruptible body. Or if we must understand the kingdom of heaven of the Church, whose children are all the righteous men from the beginning of the world until now, then the Lord speaks this of Himself, who was after John in the time of His birth, but greater in respect of His divine nature and supreme power. According then to the first interpretation it will be pointed, He who is least in the kingdom of heaven, is greater than he; according to the second, He who is less than he, is in the kingdom of heaven greater than he.

CHRYS; The kingdom of heaven, that is, in the spiritual; world and all relating thereto. But some say that Christ spoke this of the Apostles.

JEROME; We understand it simply, that every saint who is ready with the Lord is greater than he who yet stands in the battle; for it is one thing to have gained the crown of victory, another to be yet fighting in the field.

12. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
13. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14. And if you will receive it, this is Elias, which was to come.
15. He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

GLOSS: That what He had last said should not lead any to suppose that John was an alien from the kingdom of heaven, He corrects this by adding, From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

GREG; By the kingdom of heaven is meant the heavenly throne, whither when sinners defiled with any evil deed return in penitence, and amend themselves, they enter as sinners into the place of another, and take by violence the kingdom of heaven.

JEROME; Because John the Baptist was the first who preached repentance to the people, saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand: rightly therefore from that day forth it may be said, that the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For great indeed is the violence, when we who are born of earth, seek an abode in heaven, and obtain by excellence what we have not by nature.

HILARY; Otherwise; The Lord bade His Apostles go to the lost sheep of Israel, but all their preaching conveyed profit to the publicans and sinners. Therefore the kingdom suffers violence, and the violent take it by force, for the glory of Israel, due to the Fathers, foretold by the Prophets, offered by Christ, is entered and held by force by the might of the Gentiles.

CHRYS; Or; All who come thereto with haste take by force the kingdom of God through the faith of Christ; whence He says, from the days of John until now, and thus He brings them in haste to His faith, and at the same time adds support to those things which had been spoken by John. For if all things were fulfilled until John, then is Jesus He that should come; wherefore He adds, All the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.

JEROME; Not that He cuts off all Prophets after John; for we read in the Acts of the Apostles that Agabus prophesied, and also four virgins, daughters of Philip; but He means that the Law and the Prophets whom we have written, whatever they have prophesied, they have prophesied of the Lord, That He says, Prophesied until John, shows that this was now the time of Christ's coming; and that whom they had foretold should come, Him John showed to be already come.

CHRYS; Then He adds another token of him, saying, And if you will receive it, this is Elias who was to come. The Lord speaks in Malachias, I will send you Elias the Tishbite; and of the same again, Behold, I send my messenger before your face.

JEROME; John then is said to be Elias, not according to the foolish philosophers, and certain heretics who bring forward their metempsychosis, or passing of the soul from one body to another; but because (as it is in another passage of the Gospel) he came in the spirit and power of Elias, and had the same grace and measure of the Holy Spirit. But in austerity of life, and fortitude of spirit, Elias and John were alike; they both dwelt in the desert, both were girded with a girdle of skins; because he reproved Ahab and Jezebel for their wickedness, Elias was compelled to fly; because he condemned the unlawful union of Herod and Herodias, John is beheaded.

CHRYS; If you will receive it, showing their freedom, and requiring of them a willing mind. John the Baptist is Elias, and Elias is John because both were forerunners of Christ.

JEROME; That He says, This is Elias, is figurative, and needs to be explained as what follows, shows; He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

REMIG; As much as to say, Who so has ears of the heart to hear, that is, to understand, let him understand: for He did not say that John was Elias in person, but in the Spirit.

Catena Aurea Matthew 11

John the Baptist the Forerunner and Great Prophet