Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jesus’ exclamation of praise celebrates the Father’s wisdom in terms of revelation. Because God is not concerned with power and majesty but with love and compassion, he does not generally reveal himself to those in power but to the lowly and poor. Jesus’ disciples come from this group. They are manual laborers, sinners who have repented, simple people unattached to the trappings of the world.
We see this, too, in Moses and the prophets. Moses had been raised in the royal family of Egypt but had fled into exile after killing a man. It was in that humble state of life that he was able to recognize God in the burning bush. Likewise, the prophet Jeremiah was called to testify to God’s will as a youth, before he had had the chance to be educated in great depth, and he became great in the court because he knew the Lord and understood his will.
Our Gospel reading today comes right after a passage in Matthew in which Jesus declares Woe upon the towns of Chorazin and Bethsaida, who had rejected Jesus. They thought of themselves as wise, not to be taken in by a false prophet. In the face of their rejection, Jesus praises the Father for having revealed him to those who do not consider themselves wise.
Reflection by Fr. Victor Schinstock, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections