QUALIFIED

It was the time of year when coffee shops would give out annual planners to their patrons. I would eagerly show my card to get a stamp whenever I’d place an order at my favorite coffee shop. But I’d often forget to bring my card. So by the end of the promo period, I wouldn’t have enough stamps to qualify for a planner. I resigned myself to the fact that I wasn’t going to get one.

       After the promo officially ended, I went to the coffee shop and saw that their promo display for the planner was gone. I mentioned this to the cashier, admitting my failure to present my promo card despite my numerous visits. She  said, “We have one more planner here. I recognize you. You always patronize us so I guess you can have it!”

           All I could say was, “Thank you!”

       There are times in our lives when we feel we have fallen short of what is expected or required. We feel unworthy of even hoping that things could be better.

       The Gentiles, being non-Jews, were considered “unqualified” by the Law’s standards. But God had other plans. He “qualified” them, and made them complete in Jesus.

       As you come before the Lord today, let Him qualify and complete whatever is lacking in you. Let Him give you hope. Jonathan Yogawin (jyogawin@gmail.com)

Reflection: Are you running out of hope? Run to God and let Him give you a vision of His possibilities.

Lord, I believe with all my heart that the best is yet to come. I trust in You!

Four hundred and thirty years is a long, long time to be slaves. That’s nearly 15 generations! From this point alone, it is easy to see why God demands that they do not just remember their day of liberation but commemorate it ritually every year. The same argument tells us why we celebrate the Eucharist at least weekly. Liberation from sin is more important than liberation from Egypt; eternal life through the resurrection is the ultimate gift of God to us.

37 The children of Israel set out from Rameses for Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, not counting the little ones. 38 A crowd of mixed ancestry also went up with them, besides their livestock, very numerous flocks and herds. 39 Since the dough they had brought out of Egypt was not leavened, they baked it into unleavened loaves. They had rushed out of Egypt and had no opportunity even to prepare food for the journey. 40 The time the children of Israel had stayed in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. 41 At the end of four hundred and thirty years, all the hosts of the Lord left the land of Egypt on this very date. 42 This was a night of vigil for the Lord, as he led them out of the land of Egypt; so on this same night all the children of Israel must keep a vigil for the Lord throughout their generations.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever; 23 Who remembered us in our abjection, for his mercy endures forever; 24 And freed us from our foes, for his mercy endures forever. (R) 10 Who smote the Egyptians in their first-born, for his mercy endures forever; 11 And brought out Israel from their midst, for his mercy endures forever; 12 With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, for his mercy endures forever. (R)  13 Who split the Red Sea in twain, for his mercy endures forever; 14 And led Israel through its midst, for his mercy endures forever; 15 But swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea, for his mercy endures forever. (R)

Jesus had to deal with many powerful people during His ministry, many of which were determined to destroy Him. In fact, they thought they had succeeded to this end when He was crucified. But God had other ideas. What had seemed like a victory to them turns out to be exactly the opposite; the death of Jesus becomes the initial expression of victory that is consummated in the resurrection.

God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

14 The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 15 When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many people followed him, and he cured them all, 16 but he warned them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet: 18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. 21 And in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

think:  Eternal life through the resurrection is the ultimate gift of God to us.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Tobit 1-3

MATTHEW QUOTES

ISAIAH THE PROPHET

This text is largely a quote from the First Servant Song in the writings of the Prophet Isaiah. These four songs uncannily describe the passion and suffering of Jesus and so, from very early on, the Fathers of the Church have often seen them as prophecies about the Redeemer who eventually came in the person of Christ. They are well worth reading in this respect so here are the others: Isaiah 49:1-6; 50:4-9a and 52:13-53:12. Scripture scholars do not strictly consider them messianic in nature, as they do not explicitly speak about the Davidic kingship. However, spiritually, this is a legitimate interpretation.

       Matthew believes they refer to Jesus and he uses them to explain the opposition that Jesus encounters in His ministry. After all, the Prophet Isaiah predicted it, and we all know how important a prophet he is. Let us focus on one aspect of the text, namely on how the servant will be empowered by the Spirit of God. This mention of the Spirit is a reminder to us that the Spirit of God is a silent partner in the preparatory work for the coming of the Messiah. He is mentioned from time to time and plays an important role in the ministries and lives of a few of the Old Testament figures, such as Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and a few others.

       However, the Spirit really comes into His own in the preaching of Jesus, where He places the Spirit at the center of our relationship with God — the Advocate who always pleads our cause. The Holy Spirit becomes even more active in the life of the Early Church and in their understanding of how the followers of Jesus are empowered to live and proclaim the Gospel.

       It is important that we recognize the role of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ life as well. It is the Spirit of God who is the expression of the love between the Father and the Son — the essence of their relationship becomes so tangible that He is described in the Third Person of the Trinity. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: How is your relationship with the Holy Spirit? Are you living your life under His grace and power or are you trying to live under your own power?

Holy Spirit, come into my life in a more powerful way so that I will be a better disciple of Jesus. Help me to surrender more and more to You each day.