Focus
Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.
Read
Matthew 12:15-21 (NRSV)
When Jesus became aware of this, he departed. Many crowds followed him, and he cured all of them, and he ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
“Here is my servant, whom I have chosen,
my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
He will not wrangle or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
He will not break a bruised reed
or quench a smoldering wick
until he brings justice to victory.
And in his name the Gentiles will hope.”
Reflect
Christ’s healing ministry, one would think, evoked only thanks and praise from the people of Palestine. But no, some reacted negatively to the miraculous cures. When he healed folks on the sabbath (as happened in the verses just before today’s reading), it upset the Pharisees and others, for the sacred Law forbade “work” on the seventh day. Their disenchantment grew along with Jesus’ popularity. These critics sought to undermine Christ’s ministry. The Gospels show that Jesus entered into ongoing debates with these people, answering their trick questions and dubious comments with parables and insights they could not refute.
In this reading, though, Matthew recalls a prophecy of Isaiah and applies it to Christ. God Almighty speaks in the passage, referring to “my servant, whom I have chosen, with whom my soul is well pleased.” God’s Spirit will be upon this special One who will proclaim justice to the Gentiles, and in his name the Gentiles will hope. We certainly see clear reference to Christ here. But a verse in that prophecy is especially captivating. “He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick.” In other words, this matchless servant of the Most High God is gentle. He has no need to wrangle or cry aloud in the streets. His voice has genuine, divine authority. He does not shout down his critics. He simply teaches those who will listen. By the way, even some of the Pharisees were won over by this humble approach!
Pray
God of justice and hope, help us today to monitor our own attitudes and words so that we more closely follow the example of Christ our Lord. Amen.
Go with God.
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