Christlike, Namely, “a Glutton and a Drunkard, a Friend of Tax Collectors and Sinners”

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they said,
‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’

Isaiah 48:17-19 and Matthew 11:16-19 for Friday of the Second Week of Advent.

Today in the ancient prophecy of Isaiah, God tells us his commandments are for our good.

They open the way for us to live forever in his presence.

But for his part, God in Christ lived in our presence for only a short time as a man on earth.

In his day, some judged him a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.

Some did not believe his way to be that of God’s commandments, nor his works to be those of God’s wisdom.

And they smeared John the Baptist also, but as the opposite of Christ.

Some said John was possessed by a demon, because he lived alone in the wilderness, hardly eating or drinking.

How did Christ and John see each other?

Christ said elsewhere in his Gospel that while it is greater to be born the least in the Kingdom of heaven, nonetheless on earth among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist. [Mt. 11, Lk. 7]

Christ backed up John’s works and wisdom.

He said John was the prophet who was to indeed come and restore all things. [Mt. 17, Mk. 9]

John’s restoration work opened the way for Christ to fulfill it.

Christ in himself fulfills the restoration of all things.

John had a role in it, and that role is his surpassing greatness in the human race.

John opened the restoration of all things by telling Israel to open itself for change, conversion, turning away from sin and making ready to face the Lord God in Christ who was coming.

When Christ came, John told those who were ready, those who had turned away from their sins:

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Between John and Christ, the wisdom of the Kingdom of heaven started a two-headed war.

John led people away from evil.

Christ went towards the people with his Godhead and goodness.

John shunned the food and drink of this world.

Christ invaded the world of food and drink, seeming to be a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.

Here at the Eucharist of Christ, John the Baptist and his words are still alive in the Church and call us away from sin.

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Here at the Eucharist, Christ still conquers the food and drink of this world, overcoming bread and wine with his Godhead and goodness.

Here he is still among gluttons and drunkards, still a friend of tax collectors and sinners.

If we want to live in the real presence of God forever, we must heed John the Baptist, turning from our sins, confessing them to God and asking forgiveness.

God in Christ showed up in the fullness of manhood to begin his work among those who asked John for the baptism of repentance.

So, when we likewise repent, turn from sin, face God and ask forgiveness, Christ begins to make known the fullness of his coming and his work.

Christ, Son of Man, we are gluttons, drunkards, tax collectors, and sinners.
Lamb of God, take away our sins and have mercy on us.
Come to us, be our friend, and let us eat and drink in your real presence forever!

Turn. Love. Repeat.