Posted by The WORD in Other Words by Fr Pablito Tagura SVD for Saturday 15th Week in Ordinary Time
The prophecy of Isaiah in today’s gospel speaks of God’s love for the Servant. He is Spirit-filled so he shows gentle and quiet care for the weak, the discouraged and the hurting, which is in stark contrast to the rage of the Pharisees to eradicate Jesus in any way possible at any cost. All they saw in him was a rival and a threat to their privileged position and authority.
Jesus could have met the Pharisees head on and unleash “fire and brimstones” from heaven, yet he chose to overcome evil with good. As they say, “Life is not what happens to you, but how you respond and react to the events in your life.”
We have control over our attitudes as we navigate our way through life. Jesus’ way is no longer an “eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” but simply “love unlimited” that extends even to those who wish harm and evil on us. We can choose to be humble and restraint our initial impulse to get even withthose who are mean, malicious and overbearing. That “rag-tag army” of Jesus, composed of uneducated, rough and uncouth fishermen from Galilee are vividly etched in our minds and hearts because they heeded the call of Jesus to “kill” hatred in the hearts of their enemies with LOVE.
This gentle Servant calls us today: “Come to me all you who are heavily laden and find life burdensome and I will give you rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light, learn from me, for I am GENTLE and HUMBLE of heart.” (Mt. 11, 28-29) Today, for a change, heed Jesus’ call. You may find out that you’ll be less stressed and more peaceful.
Soource – Bible Diary 2020
