ARE WE RESISTANT TO GOD’S INTERVENTION?
First Reading: Exodus 2:1-15
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 68(69):3,14,30-31,33-34
Gospel Reading: Matthew 11:20-24
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In the complex weave of our day-to-day experiences, there are moments when God intervenes, offering guidance, deliverance, and miracles to its people. However, amidst these acts of grace, we find the troubling reality of resistance – a force that attempts to oppose God’s intervention and veers us away from the path of divine purpose. Today’s readings collectively invite us to reflect on the consequences of resisting God’s intervention. Within these sacred texts, we encounter stories of resistance, both ancient and timeless, challenging us to examine the depths of our own hearts and the transformative power of surrender.
The first reading (Exodus 2:1-15) presents us with the account of Moses’ birth, which stands as a remarkable example of divine intervention and human resistance. Faced with the oppressive decree of Pharaoh to kill all Hebrew male babies, God’s providential hand worked through the faith and courage of Moses’ parents, saving him from a cruel fate. And in the narrative of Moses’ encounter with his fellow Hebrew, we witness a poignant example of resistance within the community itself. Moses, driven by righteous anger at witnessing an Egyptian oppressing a Hebrew, strikes down the oppressor. However, when he attempts to mediate a dispute between two Hebrews the following day, his intervention is met with resistance. Instead of acknowledging God’s hand in Moses’ actions, they question his authority and intentions, revealing their own resistance to divine intervention. This narrative reminds us that even within our communities, resistance to God’s intervention can manifest in skepticism, doubt, and a refusal to recognize the signs of divine guidance. It challenges us to examine our own reactions when God’s hand moves in unexpected ways, urging us to embrace humility and openness.
The words of the psalmist (Ps 68/69:3,14,30-31,33-34) resonate with the ache of a soul resisting God’s intervention. Within this poetic lament, we hear the cry of one burdened by affliction, longing for deliverance, and yet wrestling with the resistance that prevents a full surrender to the Divine. The psalmist’s words embody the tension within the human heart, torn between the desire for redemption and the resistance born of woundedness and fear. This psalm invites us to examine the depths of our own hearts and confront the barriers that hinder our acceptance of God’s intervention. It calls us to bring our resistance before the Divine, trusting in His infinite compassion to heal and transform our resistant spirits.
And finally, in the Gospel reading (Matthew 11:20-24), we encounter the cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida, witnesses to the profound miracles and teachings of Jesus. Despite experiencing divine interventions firsthand, these cities resisted the transformative power of these miracles. Their hearts remained hardened, indifferent to the profound revelation before them. Jesus’ response is one of lament, as He pronounces judgment upon these cities, warning them of the consequences they will face for their rejection of divine intervention. This Gospel passage compels us to reflect on the consequences of resisting God’s miracles in our own lives. It serves as a powerful reminder that our resistance to divine intervention can lead to spiritual blindness and separation from the abundant life offered through a relationship with God. It urges us to recognize the urgency of opening our hearts to the transformative power of divine intervention and the importance of responding with humility and gratitude.
Dear friends, today’s readings offer profound insights into the consequences of resisting God’s intervention. Through the stories of Moses, the psalmist, and the cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida, we are confronted with the reality of resistance within ourselves, our communities, and our hearts. These readings challenge us to confront our skepticism, doubts, and woundedness, and to surrender to the transformative power of divine intervention. May we be inspired to examine the depths of our souls, acknowledging our resistance and seeking the grace to overcome it.
As we learn from the lessons of history and the warnings of judgment, may we embrace humility and openness, allowing God’s interventions to shape our lives and lead us into the abundance of His love. May we surrender our resistance, trusting in the divine guidance that offers deliverance, healing, and the fulfillment of our deepest longings.
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Shalom!
© Fr. Chinaka Justin Mbaeri, OSJ
Paroquia Nossa Senhora de Loreto, Vila Medeiros, São Paulo, Brazil
nozickcjoe@gmail.com / fadacjay@gmail.com
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Have you prayed your rosary today?
Amen. May the Almighty God give us the grace to surrender our resistance to, trusting in the divine guidance that offer deliverance and, healing to our deepest longing. Amen.
God Almighty, grant me the strength and willingness to embrace humility and openness, that I may allow Your interventions to shape my live and lead me into the abundance of Your love.
Amen