Saturday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

Sometimes the life lessons from Scripture can be very simple and direct. We can simply look, listen, and learn. Notice today’s readings in their most basic meaning. We have the Exodus account of the Israelite people finally coming to the tipping point. It was the right moment, with God’s help and the leadership of Moses, to flee Egypt. It had come to the point of “now or never” and it called for decisive action.

Notice how today’s Gospel shows us a similar situation. It calls for decisive action which might reflect present conditions in our own lives. Due to the agitation of the Pharisees and elders, hostility toward Jesus among some groups had reached a dangerous level. From a mere human perspective, Jesus couldn’t continue his usual open style of ministry inviting anyone to fearlessly step forward in faith beyond the rigidity of the old law. So what did he do? The Gospel tells us He withdrew from unproductive conflict and took on a low profile in his healing and teaching ministry for the sake of a higher good. What is the lesson for us?

I suggest it comes down to some serious thought about the virtue of discretion. This virtue calls upon our strength of character to choose wisdom, reverence and courage in new and different ways. Discretion forces us to tap into our deepest values and lessons learned through past experience. The more we can look to the Lord and learn discretion in all situations, the more we will become free to make the best decisions for ourselves and others.

Reflection by Fr. Daniel Petsche, OSB