Scripture:
1 Maccabees 4:36-37, 52-59
Luke 19:45-48
Reflection:
Today’s gospel is so provocative. After Jesus’ display of frustration in the temple area, the Chief Priests, the scribes and the leaders were seeking to put Him to death.
The last line is my favorite. The one I always seem to focus on.
“but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose
because all the people were hanging on his words.” (Luke 19:48)
One of my favorite priests once told me, in scripture, nothing but after the BUT matters. Here I find that blazingly important. ‘BUT’, they could find no way to accomplish their purpose, their evil, ‘because all the people were hanging on His words.’
What an incredible world those people lived in. “Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt 16:16) walked among them and still evil entwined itself into the hearts of so many. In today’s world evil too has entwined itself. This scripture gives us the answer. To hang on His words. In order not to fall for cultural words that are less than His Truth, go to the scripture on a daily basis. Read the daily readings.
So that is the challenge today. To hang on His every word. How will you hear His word today?
Kate Mims is the Retreat Center Director at Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center in Houston, Texas.