not to make him known”
GOSPEL, Matthew (12: 14-21)
Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew
14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.
God’s Chosen Servant
15 When Jesus became aware of this, he departed. Many crowds followed him, and he cured all of them, 16 and he ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
18 “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.
19 He will not wrangle or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
20 He will not break a bruised reed
or quench a smouldering wick
until he brings justice to victory.
21 And in his name the Gentiles will hope.”
The Gospel of the Lord
REFLECTION
In this Gospel passage, we feel the consequences of Jesus’ mission. His enemies persecute the elect, the loved, the beloved of God: “the Pharisees gathered counsel against Jesus, in order to make him disappear.”
“15 When Jesus became aware of this, he departed. Many crowds followed him, and he cured all of them, 16 and he ordered them not to make him known.”
Many centuries before, the prophet Isaiah had prophesied about Him: The elect and suffering servant; anointed by the Spirit, he will culminate his redemptive manifesto in the silence of the cross.
Jesus, the prophet of the kingdom of God, the good news of salvation and deliverance for the poor, will die at the hands of his enemies, the religious leaders of the Jewish people.
The voice of Jesus lives today in the hearts of those who rise with him to new life and choose, like Jesus, humble service in the spirit of the Kingdom.
Jesus foretold it: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12:23-24).
Christ willingly gives up his life by accepting the Father’s plan for the salvation of humanity. Since then, the cross of the suffering servant of the Lord has appeared before the world as a sign of deliverance, forgiveness and reconciliation. Which is why he is the hope of all peoples.
What is our attitude to Jesus’ benevolence? Let us imitate Mary’s example: she never created conflict, or raised her voice in anger. How will She will be able to “Christify” our whole life and build the kingdom of God?
PRAYER
God, our Father, grant us a humble and gentle heart, to contemplate your Son and listen to your Word, which, still resounds in the Church, who gathers in his name, to welcome and serve, according to your example, all our brothers and sisters. Amen.