Today in the Old World, this is the Thursday in the Second Week of Advent.
The readings at Mass included one which is a favorite of mine...
Jesus means that those who do violence to their own wills and desires, will seize the Kingdom of God. Like a good Jewish Rabbi, Christ plays on words. The Kingdom of God suffers violence from the outside, but those who allow the inside to be purged of sin and tendencies to sin, those saints will triumph over the exterior violence and hatred. John the Baptist, the patron saint of the Knights of Malta, is a prime example of one, who although without sin himself, suffered violence by choice, in fasting, prayer, and preaching, and incurred the violence of the establishment.
This is the way to holiness.
Here is today's Gospel.
Matthew 11:11-15Douay-Rheims
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.
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent bear it away.
13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John:
14 And if you will receive it, he is Elias that is to come.
15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
