Word to the Wise
Tuesday, July 16, 2024 - Tuesday in the 15th Week in Ordinary Time
[Isa 7:1-9 and Matt 11:20-24]Take care you remain tranquil and do not fear....Unless your faith is firm you shall not be firm. [Isaiah] Jesus began to reproach the town where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. [Matthew]
JULY 16, 2024 [Our Lady of Mt. Carmel]
Reproach features in both scriptures today! Isaiah reproaches Judah for its lack of confidence in God. Jesus reproaches the villages where he had been preaching and healing because they would not repent and believe in him.
Reproach and scolding are a form of challenge that has to be handled carefully! Very few people appreciate being reproached or scolded for something they do or believe. Yet the prophets of the Bible, in both Old and New Testaments, call attention to behavior that is leading to disaster and warn of dire consequences. The demon of denial rises up to keep the status quo and get rid of the pesky prophets that disturb the peace.
Those who do listen to caring friends who serve as "prophets" and warn us of bad habits that are leading to destruction can be thankful for those friends, even if initially we react negatively with denial. But there are prophets who speak to entire communities who organize and throw them out of town. That happened to Jesus! [cf. Luke 4:16-30]. Standing firm in faith, as Isaiah tells Judah, is the best way forward for both prophet and listener. Which one are we? And when? AMEN