Daily Reflection for Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Tuesday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/071420.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First reading: Isaiah 7:1-9
Responsorial: Psalm 48:2-8
Gospel Acclamation: Psalm 95:8
Gospel: Matthew 11:20-24
Our reflection on Tuesday’s readings:
“And as for you, Capernaum: Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.” (Matthew 11:23-24)
What a condemnation! Jesus wasn’t mincing words here. He was fed up with the nay-sayers. He’d come to them, taught and performed mighty deeds, but they were disbelievers no matter what he did or said. His words reminded me of experiences with my parents when I was a teenager. Parents explain, give examples, maybe bribe or threaten, but sometimes the person on the learning end of the exercise has to learn the hard way.
It’s simple physics: If you speed, something horrible can happen to you or someone else. In my case, the consequence of not listening to the lessons of my parents was a car wrecked on a tree. And there were consequences for the rest of the year. I learned the hard way that the laws of Nature apply to me. It was embarrassing and humbling.
In the eyes of God, even more than with our earthly parents, my strengths and weaknesses are fully exposed, just as the misdeeds of Capernaum and the other towns were clearly known to Jesus. The people of those towns failed to recognize the importance of listening to Jesus, or believing what he told them. There were consequences.
The teachings of Scripture, the Commandments, can form flying buttresses to the structure of a life. When I abide by the teachings of Jesus, I have help to avoid behaving as though I am exempt from God’s laws, as well as other rules, regulations, advice, or restrictions designed to help me. But I have to put aside my false pride to be open to recognizing the wisdom of both accepting and following those teachings.
Maybe it’s a function of aging, the slowing down process, that helps me to recognize that I need humility, and my need traces to the fact that it is a strength and not a weakness. It helps me see more clearly and listen more intently. Humility helps me see what I might otherwise overlook.
Humility is more than a great virtue. It’s a secret power!
Peace and God’s blessings be with you,
Bill Bradbury