The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today alert us to situations of inequity and selfishness that we are inspired by the Spirit to address with the gentleness and meekness of the Suffering Servant.
The reading from Micah is about social evils denounced by the prophet.
* [2:1–5] The cry “Ah” (hoy) begins a typical prophetic speech that is usually continued, as here (vv. 1–2), by a description of the addressees in terms of their unrighteous activities. This description is an indictment which gives the reasons for punishment announced to a particular group of people (vv. 3–5). The prophet spells out the crimes; the Lord announces the punishment, which corresponds to the crime: those who take the land of others will have their own land taken. (Micah, CHAPTER 2, n.d.)
Psalm 10 is a prayer for deliverance from enemies.
But you do see;
you take note of misery and sorrow; . [10:14] Ps 31:8; 56:9; 2 Kgs 20:5; Is 25:8; Rev 7:17. (Psalms, PSALM 10, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is declared as God’s Chosen Servant.
* [12:15–21] Matthew follows Mk 3:7–12 but summarizes his source in two verses (Mt 12:15, 16) that pick up the withdrawal, the healings, and the command for silence. To this he adds a fulfillment citation from the first Servant Song (Is 42:1–4) that does not correspond exactly to either the Hebrew or the LXX of that passage. It is the longest Old Testament citation in this gospel, emphasizing the meekness of Jesus, the Servant of the Lord, and foretelling the extension of his mission to the Gentiles. (Matthew, CHAPTER 12, n.d.)
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Don Schwager quotes “The Savior's meekness,” by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD).
"The prophet celebrated in advance both the Savior's meekness right alongside his unspeakable power. Thereby he opened to the Gentiles a great and effective door. Isaiah also foretold the ills that were to overtake the Jews. He foreknew the Son's oneness with the Father: 'Israel is my chosen, my soul has accepted him; I have put my Spirit upon him' (Isaiah 42:1). For it is not as an adversary that Christ transcends the law, as if he were an enemy of the Lawgiver, but as though he were of one mind with the Lawgiver and held to the very same purposes. Then, proclaiming the Lord's meekness, Isaiah said, 'He shall not cry nor lift up his voice' (Isaiah 42:20). For his desire indeed was to enable healing in their presence. But since they pushed him away, he did not contend any further against their opposition." (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 40.2.1) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 12:14-21 comments that unfortunately, many people still don’t know the Lord. Some live in countries where the government has made it difficult for the Church to flourish. And others live in places where the hope of Christ has been confused or forgotten. And so in every age, God calls certain people to spread the gospel as missionaries. These men and women give up their comfort and careers to proclaim the good news to people who have never heard of Jesus.
Even if we aren’t sent to another country, we can still participate in this mission. We can learn about different countries with our children or grandchildren and talk with them about the challenges facing the Church in that region. We can donate to a charity that serves people in one of these places. And we can pray for missionaries around the world to be strengthened and encouraged.
You can make a difference.
“Jesus, you are our hope, wherever we live. Help me spread your gospel.” (Meditation on Matthew 12:14-21, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes the horizontal and vertical dimensions of our faith as he comments on Micah’s condemnation of inequity that is punished by the Lord. The language and theology of the Suffering Servant passages in Isaiah are different from the texts in which they are found. In Matthew, Jesus recalls the Son of Man from Daniel and uses the image of the Suffering Servant to underline meekness, compassion, and empathy.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that in their book The Courage Way, Shelly Francis and the Center for Courage and Renewal share ideas about creating spaces of trust among people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs. They have identified eleven “touchstones” or “ground rules” to help move groups into greater trust, belonging, and understanding.
Give and Receive Welcome
Extend hospitality, and presume welcome, too. This includes welcome and support for diverse perspectives, opinions, and approaches. . . .
Be Present as Fully as Possible
. . . Bring all of yourself—your doubts, fears, and failings as well as your convictions, joys, and successes, your listening as well as your speaking—to the work. . . .
Extend Invitation, Not Demand
. . . Participation by listening with care is no less a contribution than participation by speaking with care. . . .
Speak Your Truth in Ways That Respect Other People’s Truth
. . . When you’re getting to know people, it’s vital to share stories across lines of difference, not to debate who’s right or wrong, and not to cast blame or shame. . . .
No Fixing, Saving, Advising, or Correcting Each Other
. . . Good leaders point their team in a direction where they can find answers, and also instill the belief that team members have the gifts and capacity to make good decisions the leaders will support. . . .
When the Going Gets Rough, Turn to Wonder
If you feel judgmental, or defensive . . . ask yourself, “I wonder what brought her to this belief?” “I wonder what he’s feeling right now?” “I wonder what my reaction teaches me about myself?” . . .
Practice Asking Open, Honest Questions
. . . Open, honest questions are the ones you cannot possibly know the answer to in advance; they are meant to elicit insights, to help people access their own resourcefulness. . . .
Attend to Your Own Inner Teacher
As you listen to and interact with others, pay close attention to your own reactions and responses. . . .
Trust and Learn from the Silence
Silence, or stillness, is a gift in our noisy world, and a way of knowing in itself. . . .
Commit to and Maintain Confidentiality
People are more likely to trust each other . . . when they know that their words and stories will remain with those with whom they choose to share them, and will never be passed on to others without permission. . . .
Know That It’s Possible for the Seeds Planted Here to Keep Growing
. . . We stand in many tragic gaps in life, and recognize that our vocation lies somewhere between what is real and what can be. (Rohr, n.d.)
We have the guidance of the Spirit as we work for peace and community in environments harmed by greed and selfishness.
References
Matthew, CHAPTER 12. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 16, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/12?14
Meditation on Matthew 12:14-21. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 16, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/07/16/442932/
Micah, CHAPTER 2. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 16, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/micah/2?1
Psalms, PSALM 10. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 16, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/10?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Practice of the Better. Daily Meditations Archive: 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/practice-of-the-better-weekly-summary-2022-07-15/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Until Jesus Brings Justice to Victory. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved July 16, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=jul16
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