The Chosen Servant

Today's Reflections

 

                               

 

     

The Chosen Servant 

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Mt 12:14-21

¹⁴The Pharisees went out and took counsel against [Jesus] to put him to death.

¹⁵When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many [people] followed him, and he cured them all, ¹⁶but he warned them not to make him known. ¹⁷This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet:/ ¹⁸“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./ ¹⁹He will not contend or cry out,/ nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets./ ²⁰A bruised reed he will not break,/ a smoldering wick he will not quench,/ until he brings justice to victory./ ²¹And in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

Reflection:

The Pharisees took counsel against Jesus. This tells of the Pharisees’ intent to put Jesus to death. But Jesus just goes on doing good. He does not confront those who plot against him. He withdraws to another place and continues doing good, curing people. This delights God whose will is fulfilled, “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight.”

Often, when others criticize or seek to harm us for doing the good we should do, we feel bad and retreat to our own shells. Jesus retreats but only to continue doing good to others.

Continue serving your brothers and sisters

even when such service brings us only

brickbats from others.