Jesus in today’s Gospel is presented in the light of the Isaian text describing the “Servant of the Lord,” especially in his quality of gentleness, humility, and peace lovingness. The previous episode, which saw him healing a man with a withered hand, provoked the religious authorities to discuss how to deal with him, but he preferred to withdraw to another place than to confront. Often, we see Jesus confronting these authorities to correct their wrong interpretations of the law or of his actions. But there are times, as in this instance, when he prefers to let go and move on to other places rather than confront. In these other places, he continues to minister to many people who are following him and spends his energy on people who need his help, instead of wasting it in arguing with the said authorities. In today’s term, we say Jesus “chooses his battles.” This is something we can also learn and apply in our daily lives: instead of always engaging in confrontations and controversies, we need to discern which ones are worth fighting for and which ones we need to ignore. There are many other fruitful things that we can do. Indeed, there is so much bickering nowadays, not just in the secular or civil sphere, but even in the ecclesiastical world. How much energy is spent on useless and hurtful arguments and mutual incriminations. Whereas, there are many tasks that we need to attend to. May we learn from the example of our Lord.

Woe to those who plan iniquity, and work out evil on their couches; In the morning light they accomplish it when it lies within their power. They covet fields, and seize them; houses, and they take them; They cheat an owner of his house, a man of his inheritance. Therefore thus says the Lord: Behold, I am planning against this race an evil from which you shall not withdraw your necks; Nor shall you walk with head high, for it will be a time of evil. On that day a satire shall be sung over you, and there shall be a plaintive chant: “Our ruin is complete, our fields are portioned out among our captors, The fields of my people are measured out, and no one can get them back!” Thus you shall have no one to mark out boundaries by lot in the assembly of the Lord.

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.