Word to the Wise
Saturday, July 19, 2014 - Friday in the 15th Week in Ordinary Time
[Isa 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8 and Matt 12:1-8]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....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."
The news media and those who are "Vatican-watchers" are fond of noting what has become known as the "Francis effect" in regard to Pope Francis! This term refers more to his "style" of relating to the world in his position as spiritual leader of the Catholic church world-wide. To some he has become a symbol of hope and to others he is a threat! But there can be no question of his attractiveness and his determination to carry out the reforms that were called for at the time he was elected. It will be interesting to see how he is viewed years from now.
Today, the Gospel of Matthew provides an interpretation of the "Jesus effect" at the time of his ministry. Of course, this gospel was put into writing nearly four decades after Jesus' ministry but Matthew notes the differing reactions of people to him. The Pharisees want to kill him and the crowds want to "follow him" and be cured. Since part of Matthew's "agenda" is to show how Jesus is the fulfillment of God's prophetic promises, a passage from Isaiah 42 is used to show how Jesus fulfills the prophecy but also how he does it - his "effect," if you will. This comes on the heels of his statement abut being "meek and humble of heart" and that his "yoke is easy and his burden light..."
To experience this "Jesus effect" requires that we place ourselves near him, either by imaginatively entering into the experiences described in the gospel or constructing our own image/relationship to him. For the person of faith, Jesus is more than a historical figure in an ancient piece of literature. Each of us can ask, "What is Jesus' 'effect' on me? AMEN