Matthew 12:15-21
The Daily Office
What was Jesus aware of? That the Pharisees had begun conspiring “how to destroy him” (v. 14 from yesterday’s reading). So, interestingly, Jesus “withdrew.” Jesus is not afraid of confrontation, but neither does he seek out every opportunity for it. In our conflict-saturated media culture, where confrontation seems the surest route to high viewer ratings, it should be noted that our Lord and Savior was God’s chosen servant who would “not quarrel or cry aloud,” nor even break a bruised reed.
Faced with the opposition from the leaders of his own people, Jesus retreats; or as the American general said during the Korean War, he advances in a different direction. What direction is that? “He will proclaim justice to the Gentiles…and in him the Gentiles will hope.” For now, at least, Jesus refuses to engage the closed-minded. He withdraws to wait for the right time to confront his enemies. Writing to the Church he had formed, Matthew encourages Jesus’s disciples not to engage in pointless conflict which might poison their own hearts. Just move on. Those who have been dismissed as “other” by the “chosen” will hear you.
Are you the “chosen” or the “other”?
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