Breaking the Word

17^th Week in Ord. Time, Saturday – 30^th July 2022 — Gospel: Mt 14,1-12

Being a Victim of a Violent World

In chap.2 Herod the Great tried to murder the infant Jesus; now his son, Herod Antipas, Tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea, kills John the Baptist. Just in the previous passage Jesus has spoken of himself as a prophet, rejected by his own people (13,57). In this passage we see the fate of the Prophet John. Thus, this situation prefigures the violent death of the final prophet, Jesus. The story of the murder of John the Baptist is the story of adultery and vainglory. It has interesting parallels in the story of Ahab, Jezebel and Elijah (1 Kings 18). In both, the prophets are murdered with vengeance. In this situation, Herod’s guilty conscience makes him an easy prey to popular superstition. He holds back his murderous intentions, as he fears the crowds, who consider John, as prophet. Herod stands out in stark contrast to the man of whom Jesus has said: “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist” (Mt 11,11). Prophet John, and later on Jesus too, became a victim for preaching the good news boldly in a violent and unscrupulous world.

27^th Week in Ord. Time, Friday – 29^th July 2022 — Gospel: Lk 10,38-42

Hospitality and Spontaneity

Martha was distracted with the cares of the family, and provided suitably to entertain Jesus, the Saviour. It should be said here that there is no evidence that Martha had a worldly or covetous disposition. Her anxiety was to provide suitable entertainment for the Lord Jesus. As mistress of the family, this care properly devolved on her; and the only fault which can be charged on her was too earnest a desire to make such entertainment. Martha was a loving woman wanting to express her love in action. She was a woman of proper expressions of courtesy and kindness. She was a spontaneous woman who was able to express her difficulty to Jesus. She boldly requested the aid of her sister and sought his direction and permission to let Mary assist her. Even though Jesus’ comment was a sort of humiliation, He knew Martha’s heart and her personality. He saw her incessant concern for ensuring that all was well and taken care of in the household. He saw her desire to give him the best meal and hospitality, preparing the way for him and his disciples every time they passed through Bethany. He paid attention to Martha by calling her by name twice. He must have loved Martha more than Mary for her spirit of hospitality and spontaneity.