Friday, 17 July 2026
Saturday, July 18, 2026 - How do you usually react to stressful situations? Will you learn from Jesus’ response today?
To read the texts click on the texts: Micah 2:1-5; Mt 12:14-21
The reason why the
Pharisees conspire against Jesus, how to destroy him is because he healed a man
with a withered arm on the Sabbath, and though at first glance it might seem
that this is an overreaction on the part of the Pharisees, when looked at in the
broader context of the Kingdom of heaven which Jesus represents and the Kingdom
of Satan which is represented by the Jewish leaders and which continues to
oppose the Kingdom of heaven, then it is easier to understand the reaction of
the Pharisees. The response of Jesus to this conspiracy is to withdraw from
that place. However, it is to be noted that Jesus does not withdraw to run away
or from fear, but to continue the work of healing and making whole. In this
withdrawal is strength and not weakness and it explicates the response of God
(Jesus) to human violence and plotting of destruction. Even in his making
people whole, Jesus does not want to be known or acclaimed and so commands
those whom he has healed to remain silent about their healing and not to make
him known. This attitude of Jesus leads to the quotation from Isaiah 42,1-4
which is the longest scriptural quotation in the Gospel of Matthew. It is about
the suffering servant of Yahweh whose primary mission is to accept those who
have been rejected by others as is shown in his not breaking the bruised reed
or quenching the smouldering wick. Also, he does this without much fanfare, and
yet his ultimate goal is to bring justice to those who place their hope in him.
He will ultimately triumph.
Our response to
challenging situations or to situations that threaten us is sometimes to run
away from fear, and sometimes to use defence mechanisms. Neither of these ways
is advocated by Jesus whose way would be to face the challenges head on.
Thursday, 16 July 2026
Friday, July 17, 2026 - How often do rules rule you? Will you try to rule rules today?
To read the texts click on the texts: Isaiah 38:1-6,21-22,7-8; Mt 12:1-8
The story, which forms
the text of today, may be termed as a Sabbath controversy. Matthew refers here
to Sabbath for the first time in his gospel. The point of contention is not
very clear in Matthew, because the law permitted a person passing through a neighbour’s
grain field to pluck heads of corn and eat them (Deut 23:23-25). The point here
seems to be whether such an act could be done on the Sabbath. While in Mark the
Pharisees ask a question, in Matthew, they are clearly hostile and make a
charge. In his response to the Pharisees, Jesus quotes refers to the story of
David in 1 Samuel 21:1-6, where David went beyond the rule to the need of his
men. If David could do such a thing, then Jesus who is greater than David can
do so even more. The Matthean Jesus also refers to the text from Numbers
28:9-10 where the priests in the Temple sacrifice there on the Sabbath,
indicating that sacrifice is greater than the Sabbath. Since mercy is greater
than sacrifice, it is surely greater than the Sabbath.
Reaching out in love to
anyone in need takes precedence over every rule, law and regulation. It is the
human who must always come first. The rule, law and regulation follows.
Wednesday, 15 July 2026
Thursday, July 16, 2026 - What is it that is tiring you? Will you lay it at the feet of Jesus?
To read the texts click on the texts: Isaiah 26:7-9,12,16-19; Mt 11:28-30
Jesus invites all those
who are burdened to come to him for rest. The burden in this context seems to
be that of the law and its obligations. When Jesus invites the burdened to take
his yoke, which is easy, he is not inviting them to a life of ease, but to a
deliverance from any kind of artificiality or the blind following of rules and
regulations. The disciple must learn from Jesus who is in Matthew “the great
teacher”. The rest that Jesus offers is the rest of salvation.
We can get so caught up
today with wanting to have more that we might lose sight of the meaning of life
itself. The desire to acquire more and more and be regarded as successful based
on what we possess sometimes leads to missing out on so much that life has to
offer.
Tuesday, 14 July 2026
Wednesday, July 15, 2026 - Is your pride preventing you from encountering Jesus? What will you do about it today?
To read the texts click on the texts: Isaiah 10:5-7,13-16; Mt 11:25-27
This text is addressed to
all those who accept the message of Jesus unlike those in Chorazin and
Bethsaida.
Jesus begins his prayer here by giving thanks to the Father. It is openness to the revelation of God that Jesus makes which is responsible for the receipt of this enormous privilege.
Acknowledging Jesus is not a matter of one’s superior knowledge or
insight, but given as a gift to those who open themselves to this revelation.
Jesus himself is an example of such openness, which allowed him to receive
everything directly from God. It is his intimacy with the Father and not his
religious genius, which is responsible for this grace.
Monday, 13 July 2026
Tuesday, July 14, 2026 - If you were a resident of Chorazin or Bethsaida how would you respond to the woes?
To read the texts click on the texts:Isaiah 7:1-9; Mt 11:20-24
The
woes pronounced against Chorazin and Bethsaida are because of the refusal of
the people in them to repent. The people of these towns did believe in the
miracles, but this belief did not translate into a change of mind, which was
the primary purpose of the miracles that Jesus worked. Also, the Gentile cities
of Tyre, Sidon that were regarded as biblical symbols of evil would fare better
on the day of judgement that Chorazin and Bethsaida.
The
miraculous and extra-ordinary cannot always sustain faith, which is a gift from
God to anyone who wants to receive it and is willing to open the heart and
mind. More often than not a kind word or a gentle touch can lead people to
repentance.
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