The Gospel reading is from Mt 11:11-15 . Jesus heaps the greatest of praise upon His cousin, John the Baptist. Then Jesus says something that baffles me. I share my research below.

From the days of John the Baptist until now,
the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence,
and the violent are taking it by force. (v. 12)

“‘What does this mean? In all likelihood, Jesus is talking about the messianic woes of Jewish tradition. Before and during the New Testament period, it was believed that the kingdom of God would make its appearance in the world during a time of intense tribulation. These days would witness savage persecution of the faithful and the apostasy of many. Against this background, ‘violence’ is a reference to the dreadful realities of persecution during the final tribulation, and ‘taking’ means either the plundering of the kingdom of believers by persecutors or the snatching of the kingdom away from those who might be open to embracing it, presumably to those who denounce it (see 23:13)” (The Gospel of Matthew [Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture], 155)

“Some interpret the word violence as a reference to asceticism. In this case, it is those who discipline themselves by prayer and fasting who seize hold of the kingdom. From a historical viewpoint, it seems likely that Jesus is referring to the onset of the “messianic woes”. This was the Jewish expectation that the kingdom of God would come during a time of intense tribulation and distress. These days would witness mass apostasy, rampant lawlessness, and a violent persecution of the saints. John the Baptist, executed for his witness to the Messiah (14:10), is the first of the faithful to perish with the arrival of these woeful days. Jesus will suffer the same violence (20:18–19), as will his disciples (10:17–18, 23; 24:9).(Curtis Mitch, “Introduction to the Gospels,” in The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: The New Testament [San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2010], 25.0)

“[O]nce John the Baptist announces that the Christ has already come, the powers of hell redouble their desperate assault, which continues right through the lifetime of the Church (cf. Eph 6:12). The situation described here seems to be this: the leaders of the Jewish people and their blind followers, were waiting for the Kingdom of God the way people wait for a rightful legacy to come their way; but while they rest on the laurels of the rights and rewards they thing their race entitles them to, others, the men of violence (literally, attackers) are taking it, as it were, by force, by fighting the enemies of the soul — the world, the flesh and the devil.

“‘This violence is not directed against others. It is a violence used to fight your own weaknesses and miseries, a fortitude, which prevents you from camouflaging your own infidelities, a boldness to own up to the faith even when the environment is hostile’ (Bl. J. Excriva, Christ is passing by, 82).

“This is the attitude of those who fight their passions and do themselves violence, thereby attaining the Kingdom of heaven and becoming one with Christ.” (The Navarre Bible: St. Matthew, 113-114)

“The mysterious formulation…appears to mean that the ‘violence’ or ‘forcefulness’ that God himself is using so as to tear down the barriers that the human heart has erected against the approach of grace must be matched by the decision on the part of individuals to respond just as violently and forcefully in embracing that grace. (Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word, Vol. I, 660)

“We might understand Jesus’ meaning to be something like the following: John’s baptizing and Jesus’ public ministry mark the first stirrings of God’s reign being established on earth. But God’s reign is meeting resistance; those who are part of the coming of God’s reign experience opposition and violence. John is in prison and will be beheaded (14:3-12); Jesus will also be executed. God’s conquest of evil will be complete only when his reign is as fully established on earth as it is in heaven (6:10).” (Bringing the Gospel of Matthew to Life, 214-215)

Violence has been with us since the first murderer killed his brother, Abel. Violence outside the Church, violence against the Church, violence within the Church, and violence within ourselves. It is only the Prince of Peace that can remedy any and all of these sad realities. With Christmas nearly upon us, it is a most appropriate time to invoke our Lord under that title, as well as His Mother, Our Lady Queen of Peace.

God bless.