In today’s Gospel, Jesus compares His generation to children in the marketplace. No matter what song is played, they refuse to respond. So Jesus offers them a new song: a lament.

John the Baptist came in austerity fasting, wearing rough clothing, calling for repentance – a bit of the wilderness wild man. Yet in verses just prior to our reading, Jesus has praised John the Baptist and pointed to him as the greatest of those born of women. But the people have hesitated. They can not decide or commit to John’s call for repentance so they go to another extreme. They claim he is possessed and thus can be ignored.

The austere wild man too much? Jesus comes to the people where they are. He came eating and drinking, sharing table fellowship with tax collectors and sinners. Surely, the wandering preacher from Nazareth can’t be of God if He is eating with “them.” They claim Jesus is just a glutton and a drunkard. 

In other words, no matter what God offered, be it stern warning or gracious welcome, many refused to listen. Jesus’ words are indeed a lament.