The Word God Spells

Matthew 12: 14-21
Ex 12:37-42 / Ps 136

He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smouldering wick until he brings justice to victory.
(Matthew 12:20)

From bonds of hate He set us free,
His Good News now we must proclaim;
We claim with all humility:
We’ll overcome in Jesus’ Name.

The Pharisees conspired against Jesus, and planned on how to destroy him. When Jesus became aware of this, he departed. Many crowds followed Him, and He cured all of them, and He ordered them not to make Him known. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah: ‘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. He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smouldering wick until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope.’ (Matthew 12: 14-21)

Reflection

Jesus set an example for all of His disciples to follow. With the awesome powers at His command, including the thousands who followed Him, He could easily have faced the pharisees who conspired to kill Him and put them in their proper place. But He decided to avoid any confrontation with them. He went away. He would not “wrangle or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smouldering wick…” Rather, He pursued His mission — to proclaim the kingdom of God, and to become the atoning sacrifice so that all of us sinners could enter that kingdom. He did not fight the Jews. Instead, from the Chosen People who rejected His message of love, He turned to those who would receive Him, and fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “And in His Name the Gentiles will hope.”

St. Paul faithfully followed the example of Jesus. He wrote to Timothy: “Avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, correcting opponents with kindness. God may grant them repentance, leading to their knowledge of the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will” (2 Tim. 2:23-26).

In our passion for our faith we may feel justified to “fight the good fight of faith” by fighting other people who belong to other churches or religions! Our battles are not against people, but against erroneous ideals and beliefs that originate from the lies of the devil. As St. Paul said, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against evil spirits in the heavens” (Ephesians 6:12). Jesus has shown us in today’s Gospel that we do not “fight fire with fire” in defense of our faith. “The wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). St. James also said, “The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (Ja.3:18).

To fight the good fight of faith means to faithfully proclaim the gospel values of Jesus Christ and to live those values in our homes, community and the marketplace. And if our message is rejected, we simply move on and leave them to God’s will.

Lord Jesus, You said to Your apostles, “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” (Mt. 5:44). Grant us the grace to follow Your example, so that we may indeed be called “children of God” in Your name. Amen.