Saturday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s gospel, the Pharisees begin to plot how they can have Jesus put to death. Jesus is aware of this and his response is to withdraw into a deserted place. Further, as the people continue to come to him for healing, he tells them not to tell where he is or that he Is healing. Our first thought might be that Jesus is afraid. That is what we would suspect if we heard about somebody else in similar circumstances taking similar action. But if we think about it a little bit we will realize that Jesus is not afraid. Rather he withdraws because his time has not yet come. When the time for his Passion arrives, he faces up to this without fear, appearing in public again and confronting those who come to arrest him, and even protecting the disciples who are with him.
Rather I think it is because as the passage from Isaiah says, he will not “contend or cry out, nor will his voice be heard in the streets.” Because his time has not yet come he does not want to stir up the sort of trouble that will interfere with his continuing ministry. When his time comes, he will face his enemies and permit them to do their worst, so that he can turn this sin into our redemption. Until then, he quietly continues his work.
Further, the passage from Isaiah says, “a bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench.” Here I think this reflects his compassion for those who have rejected him and are plotting to kill him. Jesus is God Incarnate, and he still loves those who are his enemies, and he will save them if they allow it. Here, I think he is giving them space to rethink their plotting, even though as God he knows they will not take it. God always give the sinner space to return to Him, let us take this opportunity for repentance.
Reflection by Fr. Aquinas Keusenkothen, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections