who wear fine clothes and enjoy delicate food are found in palaces. 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 my way.
No one may be found greater than John among those born of women; but, I tell you, the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. All the
people listening to him, even the tax collectors, had acknowledged the will of God in receiving the baptism of John, whereas the Pharisees and
teachers of the law, in not letting themselves be baptized by him, ignored the will of God.

Reflection:

There is mutual respect between John and
Jesus. This sets us thinking whether they are close
as cousins during their growing up years. There
is scant biblical data to establish what kind of
relationship they had. Although we can infer that
John grew up in the desert with a religious group
that is dedicated to the pursuit of God by ascetical
practice, we do not know whether John and Jesus
have interactions during their growing up years. But
the words of John about Jesus when the latter went
for baptism, and the words of Jesus about John in this
gospel makes us believe that they respect each
other. Jesus praises John as the greatest among those
born of a woman. For he is the one foretold by the
Scripture to prepare the way of the Lord.