Humble Open Peacemaking Effort (HOPE)

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to reject indifference and approach our relationships with an attitude we observe in children of wonder, trust, and openness to love.

Our Lady of Hope Retreat Centre

The Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah presents Judgment on Assyria.

* [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.

* [10:16] His fat ones: the strong men of the enemy army. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 94 complains about oppression of the holy community by people within community

* [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 declares Praise of the Father in revelation to the childlike.

* [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.)

Greg Dyche quotes Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate,

 

“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.” 

How quick I can shift my mindset and think “By my own power I have done it.” I am often the Assyrian Axe thinking I am a self-made man. I am also Judah with the plunder of the poor in my house. I’ve dressed it up of course. I don’t go and rob the poor directly, but I don’t always worry about who’s making my clothes, harvesting my food, or labeling my data. I get busy and become indifferent.

 

God is not indifferent. God sent His Son. I find comfort when Jesus says “All things have been handed over to me.” As silly as it can sound to say out loud, I can forget the first commandment and think I’m in charge. (Dyche, 2026)

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.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that Isaiah presents a prophecy about Assyria a powerful empire, and the conquest of the northern people of Israel as an agent of God but Assyria had become arrogant and had gone way beyond what God had intended. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus declares that God has revealed truth to the childlike who don’t have to figure it out but live in wonder. They are not analytical like adults, who strip away understanding with complications and lack of trust. Friar Jude notes that we develop Knowledge of the Father as the Son reveals who the Father is to those He wishes as we seek answers to “Who God is?” and “What He wants of us.”

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 11:25-27 asks “What was the difference between the people of these towns and the people who received God’s revelation?” A “childlike” disposition. So let’s look at two qualities that help form this disposition—both in the disciples and in us.

Humility: When we’re humble, we see that we are completely dependent on God. The disciples were humble enough to understand that they didn’t have all the answers… 

Openness: A humble attitude helps us to be open—to be ready to hear and embrace God’s word. It enables us to be docile and teachable…

Like any good father, our heavenly Father wants us to know him and to feel free enough to draw near to him so that he can teach us. We know that the Father sent his only Son—the second Person of the Trinity, the One who has intimate knowledge of him and calls him Abba—to reveal himself to the world. All he’s looking for are humble, open hearts.

So let’s come to our Father today with a childlike attitude. Let’s come with humility, knowing that we don’t have all the answers. And let’s come with openness, willing to be taught and to allow our ideas to be challenged and reshaped.

“Father, give me the grace to become like a child before you.” (Meditation on Matthew 11:25-27, n.d.)

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that this beatitude, “Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be recognized as children of God. ( Matthew 5:9 ) places Jesus in a lineage of peacemakers who reject the false promises of violence. Fr Richard introduces pastor Rich Villodas who makes a distinction between peacemaking and peacekeeping.

Peacemakers are those who work for right relationships at the expense of their comfort. We don’t usually choose this route, nor do we understand what it really means. Jesus does not say, “Blessed are the peacekeepers.” [But] what’s the difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking?…

Peacekeeping tries not to rock the boat, avoids conflicts, and is superficial. It ensures that no one gets upset. That’s not real peace. When, out of fear, we avoid conflict and appease people, we are false peacemakers….

Here’s the thing with peacekeeping: sooner or later, it brings chaos—not peace—into your life. Peacemaking is quite different. Peacemakers don’t avoid conflict; in fact, sometimes peacemaking creates it. We see this with Jesus. As the epitome of love, he wasn’t always nice—at least not in the way modern people visualize niceness….

He burst into the temple and flipped over tables because poor, vulnerable people were being taken advantage of (see Matthew 21:12). When he saw the Pharisees putting yokes of religious condemnation on people, he confronted the religious leaders with harsh words. As Jesus’s life reveals, peacemaking is often met with resistance. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)

We are truly blessed to have children in our lives who are open to the wonder of learning and living in humble trust that making peace brings a better day for all.

References

Dyche, G. (2026, July 15). Daily Reflection July 15, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved July 15, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-july-15-2026 

Isaiah, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 15, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/10? 

Matthew, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 15, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/11? 

Meditation on Matthew 11:25-27. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved July 15, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/07/15/1623529/ 

Psalms, PSALM 94 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 15, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/94? 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Peacemaking Is Not Keeping the Peace. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved July 15, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/peacemaking-is-not-keeping-the-peace/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Heavenly Things Revealed to Infants. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 15, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Judgement and Gratitude

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.

Judgement and Gratitude

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 

Perceiving Truth

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today encourage us to allow the prompting of the Spirit to lead us to an attitude of humility and gratitude that reveals the truth of our life in our relationship with God.

Awe Wonder and Truth

The reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah declares that 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. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 94 praises God as 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.)

Nancy Shirley comments that, not unlike the messengers in the Old Testament scripture, she is blessed to experience many interveners.  These are the people who see you feeling down and reach out with a word, a touch, a hug that lets you know that you are not alone.  Times when she feels soul weary – She feels the Divine presence in the flowers, rainbows, and music.

I am always amazed at the timing of these experiences – there is no way that I can imagine that any of this is coincidental.  The Divine Plan of my live is certainly unknown to me, yet I know without a doubt that I will never be alone.  There is no way that I will be abandoned.  I think about my own children and how I (with my human shortcomings) would never turn my back on them – I know that my Father will never leave me, no matter what my behavior or thoughts. A lyric that has touched my heart is: Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders. What a soul-filling concept to keep echoing in my head!! (Shirley, n.d.)

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, 2020)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 11:25-27 comments that we can work on being more childlike. Try to take time every day to slow down and sit quietly with Jesus. It’s easy to fill our days with activities, chores, and obligations and miss out on deepening our relationship with him. Of course, there is much that we have to do each day, but it’s also vital that we not let it consume us.

So spend time just enjoying God’s presence. Sit outside and absorb the sun, and thank your Father for the gift of its warmth. Or close your eyes and imagine yourself taking a leisurely walk with Jesus. Put aside all the “grown-up” thoughts for just a short time, and simply enjoy the Lord. Be like a child, and see what your Father reveals to you. “Father, thank you for calling me your child! Help me to know you, not just as the Almighty, but as my own Father.” (Meditation on Matthew 11:25-27, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winker categorizes the text from Isaiah as a taunt song against Syria, chosen, first, to be an instrument of punishment but through arrogance and evil choices have become a target for destruction. We are called to live in the awe and wonder of a child as we trust in the mystery of the Love of God. Friar Jude is reminded of the words of Augustine who advised that we cannot know all about God just as we cannot know all the water in the ocean.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Osheta Moore, a pastor and peacemaker committed to following the nonviolent path of Jesus in her work for racial justice, who has spent the last decade calling on the peacemakers to view their peacemaking in light of the Hebraic concept of shalom.

The whole of Jesus’ ministry was to establish a community so convinced of their Belovedness to God that they proclaim the Belovedness of others. [Richard: Chosenness is for the sake of letting all others know they are chosen too!] Belovedness is a massive act of owning and accepting your humanness as a gift from a God who deeply loves you. As we adjust our thinking of this work as rehumanizing those who have been dehumanized, Belovedness is essential in our anti-racism peacemaking. Which is why nonviolence in thought, word, and deed is a pillar in my anti-racism work. . . . (Rohr, 2020)

As we recall the times when the Spirit moved us to awe and wonder, we reactivate the unity we experienced as beloved children of God, to aid our journey today.

References

Isaiah, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 13, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/10?5 

Matthew, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 13, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/11?25 

Meditation on Matthew 11:25-27. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 13, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/07/13/441085/ 

Psalms, PSALM 94 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 13, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/94?5 

Rohr, R. (2020, April 17). God’s Shalom and Racial Justice. Daily Meditations Archive: 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/gods-shalom-and-racial-justice-2022-07-13/ 

Schwager, D. (2020, April 17). Heavenly Things Revealed to Infants. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved July 13, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=jul13 

Shirley, N. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved July 13, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/071322.html