My servant whom I have chosen
Published Jul 17, 2021 12:03 am
REFLECTIONS TODAY
With the Passover, the Israelites finally leave Egypt where they stayed for 430 years. When Joseph was governor in this land, they found security and grew to be numerous. But a Pharaoh who did not acknowledge what Joseph had done for Egypt saw them as a danger to his reign and subjected them to hard labor. But through Moses, God finally brings the Israelites to freedom. There are no fireworks, no celebration, when they leave Egypt, only a vigil for the Lord, which they have to keep throughout their generations (Ex 12:42).
In the Gospel, even as the Pharisees are plotting to kill him, Jesus goes about curing people,
making known the reign of God that is active in their midst. He is not curtailed by their evil plots;
he knows that the Lord will vindicate him, just as he vindicates the Suffering Servant in Isaiah. In fact, the evangelist Matthew identifies Jesus with this mysterious Ebed YHWH. Jesus bears with the evil counsel of the Pharisees in the spirit of the Servant. He does not counter violence with violence. He is willing to suffer to carry out God’s will.
GOSPEL • MATTHEW 12:14-21
The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.
When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many people followed him, and he cured them all, but he warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet: Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench,/ until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope.
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2021,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
With the Passover, the Israelites finally leave Egypt where they stayed for 430 years. When Joseph was governor in this land, they found security and grew to be numerous. But a Pharaoh who did not acknowledge what Joseph had done for Egypt saw them as a danger to his reign and subjected them to hard labor. But through Moses, God finally brings the Israelites to freedom. There are no fireworks, no celebration, when they leave Egypt, only a vigil for the Lord, which they have to keep throughout their generations (Ex 12:42).
In the Gospel, even as the Pharisees are plotting to kill him, Jesus goes about curing people,
making known the reign of God that is active in their midst. He is not curtailed by their evil plots;
he knows that the Lord will vindicate him, just as he vindicates the Suffering Servant in Isaiah. In fact, the evangelist Matthew identifies Jesus with this mysterious Ebed YHWH. Jesus bears with the evil counsel of the Pharisees in the spirit of the Servant. He does not counter violence with violence. He is willing to suffer to carry out God’s will.
GOSPEL • MATTHEW 12:14-21
The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.
When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many people followed him, and he cured them all, but he warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet: Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench,/ until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope.
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2021,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.