• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

  • Migration
    • Statement from Passionist Leadership Regarding Current United States Immigration Policies
    • The Global Migration Crisis: What Can a Retreat Center Do?
  • Laudato Si’
    • Laudato Si’ 2023-24 Report and 2024-25 Plan
    • Ways to Live Laudato Siˊ
    • Sustainable Purchasing
      • Sustainable Purchasing Guide
      • Hints for Sustainable Meetings and Events
      • Sustainable Living Hints
    • Passion of the Earth, Wisdom of the Cross
    • Passionist Solidarity Network
    • Celebrating the Season of Creation
  • Pray
    • Daily Reflections
    • Prayer Request
    • Sunday Homily
    • Passionist Spirituality and Prayer
    • Video: Stations of the Cross
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
  • Grow
    • Proclaiming Our Passionist Story (POPS)
    • The Passionist Way
    • Retreat Centers
    • Passionist Magazine
    • Passionist Ministries
      • Preaching
      • Hispanic Ministry
      • Parish Life
      • Earth and Spirit Center
      • Education
      • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Passionist Solidarity Network
    • Journey into the Mystery of Christ Crucified
    • Celebrating the Feast of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Subscribe to E-News
    • Sacred Heart Monastery
      • History of Sacred Heart Monastery
      • A Day in the Life of Senior Passionists
      • “Pillars” of the Community
  • Join
    • Come and See Holy Week Discernment Retreat
    • Are You Being Called?
    • Province Leadership
    • Vocation Resources
    • Passionist Brothers
    • The Life of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Discerning Your Call
    • Pray With Us
    • Passionist Vocation Directors
    • World Day for Consecrated Life
    • Lay Partnerships
  • Connect
    • Find a Passionist
    • Passionist Websites
    • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Passionist Alumni Association
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Monthly Giving
      • St. Gemma Circle of Giving Intentions
    • Leave a Legacy
      • Giving Matters
      • Ways to Give
      • Donor Relations
      • Testimonials
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
    • Privacy Policy Statement
  • Learn
    • Our Passionist History: Webinar Series
    • Proclaiming Our Passionist Story (POPS)
    • Our Founder
    • History
    • The Letters of St. Paul of the Cross
    • The Diary of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Mission and Charism
    • Saints and Blesseds
    • FAQs
    • Find a Passionist
    • STUDIES IN PASSIONIST HISTORY AND SPIRITUALITY
  • Safe Environments

Daily Scripture, July 12, 2022

Scripture:

Isaiah 7:1-9
Matthew 11:20-24

Reflection:

We typically think of Jesus offering warm words of encouragement and reassurance, soothing words of understanding and consolation. But not today. Instead of words that comfort and uplift, Jesus speaks harsh and threatening words, words of judgment and condemnation. Why is Jesus, God’s messenger of love and peace, so angry?

Jesus castigates the citizens of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum because even though each town was a setting for many of Jesus’ miracles, the people refused to change. Before their eyes, Jesus healed and gave life, but no matter what Jesus did, their hearts remained closed. Jesus is exasperated because they completely misunderstood the purpose of his miracles. Jesus’ wonderful works were not designed to bring attention to himself, but to call people to reform their lives by changing their sinful, self-destructive ways and opening their hearts to God. Jesus healed and fed and brought the dead back to life not to put on a show to dazzle and entertain, much less to trumpet his powers, but to demonstrate his care for the suffering, for all who were afflicted and in need. In short, Jesus’ miracles were an invitation to people to go and do likewise, to show to the poor and suffering in their midst the very love, mercy, and compassion of God. In this way, they would keep Jesus’ miracles alive by imitating them.

There is one final lesson in today’s gospel we cannot afford to overlook. Jesus cannot force us to open and change our hearts. He can invite us to conversion, but he cannot coerce it. Like the people of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, we can harden our hearts. We can close ourselves off to God. But to cut ourselves off from God is not to keep us safe, but to cut us off from life. If we do so, Jesus will rightly be as exasperated with us as he was with the people of these towns. But his exasperation is in proportion to—and a sign of—his love.


Paul J. Wadell is Professor Emeritus of Theology & Religious Studies at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, and a member of the extended Passionist family.

Footer

Support the Passionists

Contact the Passionists

Name

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province
660 Busse Highway | Park Ridge, IL 60068
Tel: 847.518.8844 | Toll-free: 800.295.9048 | Fax: 847.518.0461
Safe Environments | Board Member Portal | Copyright © 2025 | Log in