15th Week in Ordinary Time : Saturday 19th July 2025

It takes a grave experience for people to change their treatment of others. The Lord had just brought the tenth plague, the killing of the firstborn, on the Egyptians. Now the Egyptians were anxious for the Israelites to leave. The firstborn of the Israelites had been protected by putting the blood of a lamb on the lintel and doorposts and remaining inside until morning. The Israelites were then free to leave Egypt but, for the Lord, it was a night of vigil. The Israelites were to keep this night of vigil throughout all generations. To this day with the Passover celebration, the Jewish people honour the escape of their ancestors from Egypt. God freed the people from their oppressors.

The Pharisees were conspiring against Jesus because He had healed a man on the sabbath. After the Pharisees left, Jesus continued healing others. But He urged the people to keep silent about the healings and about Him. Matthew added a quotation from Isaiah 42 – he connects Jesus with the Suffering Servant about whom Isaiah had been writing. Matthew was inferring that Jesus was the chosen one, the meek one, the one beloved by God, the one who had been filled with the Holy Spirit and in whose name the Gentiles would have hope. Jesus came to realign the intention of Sabbath to proper conduct. Sabbath is not meant to oppress people but to free them from unnecessary worries.

Thank you, Jesus, for the hope You give us by freeing us from idle worries.