SATURDAY OF THE FIFTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, JULY 20, 2024

MASS READINGS:

Gospel

Mt 12:14-21

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 prophet:

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.

REFLECTION

 he withdrew

When is the right time to withdraw? Remove, cancel, and discontinue? It depends.

Our human intuition tells us many times when to get away from people, situations and places. We just don't feel comfortable and we know it is time to go. Jesus withdrew not because He was scared. It was not His time.

In college there is a deadline to withdraw from classes without penalty of an "F". Banks have rules on the amount of monies we can withdraw from ATM. We withdraw from conversations when there is gossiping, we withdraw from associations that lead us into bad decisions, such as drugs, vandalism, cheating.

Our souls need time away from the world. Worries and burdens slow us down and we tend to take it out on others. Giving all our worries to God does not mean that He will take away our problems, but He embraces our weaknesses and problems and allows us to rest in His arms, receiving all the needed graces to serve Him and others.

Many Desert Fathers withdrew to caves leaving the dissolute life of the world.

When we want that joy to spend time with Jesus, we withdraw from the world and focus solely on Him.

Visit Jesus daily in Adoration.

God bless you