OUR HELP AND OUR SHIELD
From faith, and through it, we come to a new understanding of ourselves
and all the world about us. (Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy)
In today's reading
from Matthew's Gospel, Jesus delivered a man from demonic possession and
restored his speech. The crowds looked with awe at the wonderful works which
Jesus Christ did, but the religious leaders attributed this same work to the
power of the devil. They disbelieved because they refused to recognize Jesus as
the Messiah. Their idea of religion was too narrow and closed to accept Jesus
as the Anointed One sent by the heavenly Father "to set the captives
free" (Is 61:1; Matt 11:5.) They were so set in their own ways that they
were too proud to change and submit to Jesus. They held rigidly to the
observances of their ritual laws while neglecting the more important duties of
love of God and love of neighbor. Those so neglected were lost and spiritually
hungry for God. Jesus met their need and gave them new faith and hope in God's
saving help.
Our heavenly Father
is our help and our shield. This saving Lord comes to his people who are
"like sheep without a shepherd." This phrase was often used in the
bible to describe people without anyone to care for them. We also are longing
and are in need of healing and peace on our own journey.
Jesus invites us to
pray that the work of the Gospel may spread throughout the world, so that
peace, joy, and love will be in the hearts of all people that can only come
from our heavenly Father. The psalmist shared this truth. "I shall be
content in your presence."
Reflect upon this
prayer today: by Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy
I have come to the
conclusion that the most important element in human life is faith. From faith,
and through it, we come to a new understanding of ourselves and all the world
about us. It puts everything into spiritual focus... so that love and joy and
happiness, along with worry, sorrow, and loss, become a part of a large picture
which extends far beyond time and space. Amen.