Daily Meditation - Saturday 19July 2008 - NO ONE IS TURNED AWAY

[BarbaraTherese]

Mass Readings & Meditation
Readings

Meditation
Matthew 12:14-21

Having failed in their efforts to discredit Jesus in the eyes of the people, Jesus’ opponents sought to destroy him instead (Matthew 12:14).

• It seems that they were never open to his message or the possibility that he really was the Messiah.
• Jealousy had closed their ears and hardened their hearts.
• But in contrast to these men’s violent plotting,
• Jesus humbly withdrew from the town where he had stirred such controversy and continued his mission of mercy.

Jesus’ behavior contradicted the popular view that the Messiah would be a mighty military hero.

• Where was the warrior-king who would bring judgment upon Israel’s oppressors?
• Jesus’ withdrawal must have disappointed some of his followers,
• but Matthew saw it differently.
• He saw in Jesus’ actions the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy: “Behold, my servant . . . my beloved in whom I delight. . . . He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets” (Matthew 12:18-19; Isaiah 42:1-4 ).

Jesus is the perfect Servant of the Lord.

• Far from the aggression and stubbornness of his detractors,
• he was gentle and humble.
• He came to save, not to condemn.
• His only concern was to uphold his Father’s word with humility
• —even when it meant confronting sin in people’s lives.

When people tried to discredit him, he responded with the firmness of a man of God and quickly got back to his mission.

• He went so far as to empty himself for our sakes, giving his very life for us on the cross.
• Even today, Jesus is still doing the same thing.
• He is still offering salvation to everyone by seeking to draw all people into a relationship with the Father.
  Our tender Savior is always open to our cries for help and mercy.
• He turns no one away.
• He condemns no one—not even those who oppose him.
• He invites us to lay down the things that separate us from him and offers us a life far better than anything we have ever known.

“Almighty God, thank you for revealing yourself to us through your humble servant, Jesus. I praise you for sending your Spirit to reveal your tenderness, mercy, and healing to all who approach you with an open heart.”