The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, July 17, 2004
Saturday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today’s Liturgy of the Word:
Micah 2:1-5
Psalm 10:1-4, 7-8, 14
Matthew 12:14-21

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

Silence is Violence Against Ourselves.

The threat of violence does not silence the Word. The threats against Jesus compel Him rather to withdraw from His public appearance in the streets to a prudent spot where He heals and proclaims to those who seek Him. Those who will to be healed in body and soul, find Him.

Do we see today how the Word proclaimed is met with a violence of refutation? Do we see that it is silenced before the momentum of immoral and evil social norms? What sense do we find in the carefully legislated ban on praying the Word while profanity, violence and pornography are common fare for conversation, advertising, video games, family-time television and all venues for “entertainment”?

The Gospel hearkens back to Isaiah reminding us that God proclaims “behold ... my beloved...my Spirit upon Him...will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.” The favored who refuse the Word will not to hear Him. Their violence in silencing their hope is a self destructive violence. “He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.” Yet the Word is not silent at all. He is there with those who seek Him. He is our All in all. The streets of our daily media, social constructs, political arenas and moral landscapes often oppose and silence the Word. We find Him where we seek to be cured, forgiven, healed and holy.

Lord, may we always find You,
our hope in the forgiveness of our sins.
May we behold You as beloved
in the street of our daily thoughts, words and deeds.
Amen

- Mary Williams
(wlmsconsul at pdq dot net)

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posted by joachim at 5:31 AM