The Gospel for Saturday of the fifteenth week in Ordinary Time is taken from Matthew 12th, chapter 1421. The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many people followed him and he cured them all, but he warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the 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.

He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick, he will not quench. Until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope. Matthew makes note of the prophet Isaiah a prophecy about the nature of Jesus ministry. And it’s not about demanding and screaming and proclaiming things in an authoritarian way.

No, it was the gentle movement of a healing, loving figure, Jesus, who is revealing who God is. So here at the end of his ministry, when he knows he’s going to be crucified, the first thing he does is takes care of those that were there with him, healed them, and simply said, be still, don’t have to talk about who I am. I have proclaimed everything that needs to be proclaimed. Please take a few moments to reflect upon these images and then I will close with a prayer. The closing prayer Father, as we look at the broad picture of the ministry that Jesus performed three short years and over and over again, he just described a beautiful image of a God that no one believed could possibly exist. So when he is ultimately at the end of his life, he knows that what the world needs is not just another teaching, but a transformative power called the Crucifixion.

Bless us with an awareness of what this gift brings. And we ask this in Jesus name, amen.