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July 11, 2017

What does it mean to “wrestle” with God? In the first reading Jacob wrestles with a man, is given a new name and receives the man’s blessing. Jacob realizes he had met and wrestled with God, and lived. We wrestle with God when we present our problems to him, when we ask God for favors and blessings, when we ask God to forgive our many failures and weaknesses. We ask God for grace and courage to accept our problems and crosses. With God we are assured we can face our problems and the world with confidence.

In the Gospel reading we see Jesus curing a man unable to speak because he was possessed by an evil spirit. We see Jesus preaching the Good News; we see Jesus moved with pity for the crowds for they were “harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd.”

We hear Jesus telling his disciples to pray for the Lord of the harvest to send laborers to gather his harvest. We make the same prayer today.

One Bread, One Body

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All Issues > Volume 33, Issue 4

<< Tuesday, July 11, 2017 >>

St. Benedict

Genesis 32:23-33
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Psalm 17:1-3, 6-8, 15

Matthew 9:32-38
Similar Reflections

CONTENDING OR TENDING?

"You have contended with divine and human beings." �Genesis 32:29

Jacob contended with a messenger of God in a wrestling match and prevailed (Gn 32:25, 29; Hos 12:5). "As a man he contended with God" (Hos 12:4). A Jacob lurks inside each of us. Jesus calls us to beg the Father for laborers for the harvest and to answer our prayer by becoming one of those laborers ourselves (Mt 9:37-38). Yet how often do we contend with God for long periods of time spending more time and energy trying to avoid God's call instead of simply answering it? (cf Jon 1:2-3)

Jesus had plenty of His own troubles when He directed us to pray for workers for the kingdom of God. He had been rejected by an entire town of Samaritans (Lk 9:53). The religious leaders had just accused Him of being in league with Satan! (Mt 9:34) Yet instead of contending with His Father or with people, Jesus' heart was filled with compassion and pity (Mt 9:36).

Jesus directs our attention to the many confused people who need shepherding (Mt 9:36). He tells us to die to ourselves, lose our lives, and follow Him in laboring for His harvest (Lk 9:23). Will we contend with Him and try to direct His attention to our own weariness and troubles? Or will we beg Jesus to give us and many others a heart of compassion for the crowds of lost, hurting people? Will we contend with the Shepherd or tend His sheep? (Jn 21:16)

Prayer: Jesus, I repent of being unwilling to focus on Your priorities. "Your kingdom come" (Mt 6:10). I beg you to grant many the grace to accept a holy, religious vocation.

Promise: Jesus "cured every sickness and disease." �Mt 9:35

Praise: St. Benedict was blessed to die still facing the altar having just received the Lord in the Eucharist.