The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today warn us of human motives that cloud our judgement and delay our surrender in gratitude to the Way of Jesus.
In the reading from the Prophet Isaiah, arrogant Assyria is also judged.
* [10:5–34] These verses contain a series of oracles directed against Assyria. Verses 5–15 portray Assyria as simply the rod God uses to punish Israel, though Assyria does not realize this. The original conclusion to this unit may be the judgment found in vv. 24–27a, which continues the imagery and motifs found in vv. 5–15. Verses 16–23, because of the quite different imagery and motifs, may originally have been an insertion directed against Aram and Israel at the time of the Syro-Ephraimite War.
* [10:6] Impious nation: Judah. It was God’s intention to use Assyria merely to punish, not to destroy, the nation.
* [10:9–10] The cities mentioned were all cities captured, some more than once, by the Assyrians in the eighth century B.C. Verse 9 suggests a certain historical order in the fall of these cities, and v. 10 suggests that all of them had fallen before Samaria (cf. Am 6:2). That implies that one should think primarily of events during the reign of Tiglath-pileser III (745–727).
* [10:16] His fat ones: the strong men of the enemy army. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 94 praises God, the Avenger of the Righteous.
* [Psalm 94] A lament of an individual who is threatened by wicked people. The danger affects the whole community. Calling upon God as judge (Ps 94:1–2), the Psalm complains about oppression of the holy community by people within (Ps 94:3–7). Bold declarations of faith follow: denunciation of evildoers (Ps 94:8–11) and assurance to the just (Ps 94:12–15). The Psalm continues with further lament (Ps 94:16–19) and ends with strong confidence in God’s response (Ps 94:20–23). (Psalms, PSALM 94 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus thanks His Father.
* [11:25–27] This Q saying, identical with Lk 10:21–22 except for minor variations, introduces a joyous note into this section, so dominated by the theme of unbelief. While the wise and the learned, the scribes and Pharisees, have rejected Jesus’ preaching and the significance of his mighty deeds, the childlike have accepted them. Acceptance depends upon the Father’s revelation, but this is granted to those who are open to receive it and refused to the arrogant. Jesus can speak of all mysteries because he is the Son and there is perfect reciprocity of knowledge between him and the Father; what has been handed over to him is revealed only to those whom he wishes. (Matthew, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB, n.d.)
Rashmi Fernando, S.J. comments that when human beings boast of their successes and attribute them to their own strength and wisdom, rather than to their Creator, Ignatian spirituality sees it as an act of vain glory.
Reflecting on these readings through the Ignatian lens, the juxtaposition between the arrogance of the Assyrians and the humility of the childlike highlights a key spiritual principle: humility opens us to God's wisdom, grace, and ultimate exultation, while pride blinds us and leads to our downfall. Do we attribute our successes to our own efforts, or do we acknowledge God's hand in our lives? Are we open to the childlike simplicity that Jesus praises, allowing God's wisdom to guide us? By embracing humility and trusting in God's justice, do we take refuge in the promise that "the Lord will not abandon his people". (Fernando, 2024)
Don Schwager quotes “Revealed to babes,” by Epiphanius the Latin (late 5th century)
"And he revealed these things to children. To which children? Not those who are children in age but to those who are children in respect to sin and wickedness. To them Jesus revealed how to seek the blessings of paradise and the things to come in the kingdom of heaven, because thus it was well pleasing before God that 'they should come from the east and the west and that they should lie down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but that the sons of this worldly kingdom should be cast into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:11-12).'" (excerpt from INTERPRETATION OF THE GOSPELS 26) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 11:25-27 comments that St. John Vianney readily admitted that he was an inferior scholar and public speaker with no real talent for evangelization. But he had a humble heart and a willingness to listen to God. And because of his childlike humility, he helped to renew the Church one person at a time.
You may find it hard to understand Scripture or explain your faith. You may think other people are more gifted than you are. But remember John Vianney! God reveals himself to simple humble men and women. He delights to work through ordinary people. You don’t have to be an expert. Just be open to his revelation! Seek him with a teachable heart, and you will find him.
“Father, help me to know you more. Teach me, Lord. I’m ready to listen.” (Meditation on Matthew 11:25-27, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the change of direction presented by Isaiah when Assyria, originally called to punish Israel, is rejected by God for pride and exercise of the prerogatives of God. Jesus declares the secrets of God are revealed to the childlike. Friar Jude reminds us that the childlike celebrate what we can filled with awe.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares that surrendering our lives to God is the very essence of a spiritual life. Our inner blockage to turning over our will is only overcome by a decision. It will not usually happen with a feeling, a mere idea, or a verse from religious Scripture. It is the will itself, our stubborn and self-defeating willfulness, that must first be converted and handed over. It doesn’t surrender easily, and usually only when it’s demanded of us by partners, parents, children, health, or circumstances.
From the time we were young and according to our ability, we have all taken control and tried to engineer our own lives in every way possible. In fact, our culture doesn’t respect people who do not “take control.” [1] Bill W. was wise enough to make surrender a clear Step 3 in the program. Jesus made it step one: “If any want to follow me, let them renounce themselves” (Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; Matthew 16:24). I’m pretty sure that Jesus meant exactly what Bill W. meant: a radical surrendering of our will to Another, whom we trust more than ourselves. [3] (Rohr, n.d.)
We seek the guidance of the Spirit in our judgements and express our gratitude for the life we have found in our surrender to His Will in our difficult times.
References
Fernando, R. (2024, July 17). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved July 17, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/071724.html
Isaiah, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 17, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/10?5
Matthew, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 17, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/11?25
Meditation on Matthew 11:25-27. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 17, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/07/17/1024254/
Psalms, PSALM 94 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 17, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/94?5
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Surrender and Acceptance. Retrieved July 17, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/surrender-and-acceptance/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Heavenly Things Revealed to Infants. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 17, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jul17
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