July 19, 2025 - Saturday of the 15th week, year ‘A’
Homily
In these times of ‘globalization’ -- a certain kind of globalization dominated entirely by economics — the gap between rich and poor nations is widening, as is the gap between rich and poor within each country.
Periodically, the decision-makers — but are they really the decision-makers? — of rich nations meet, and we are now accustomed to seeing these meetings accompanied by violent demonstrations, with anarchists always mingling with those who would like to peacefully show their disagreement. It often ends in loss of life.
This situation is not new. The people of Israel were reduced to slavery in Egypt for 430 years. Their deliverance was certainly not without some violence, but it was achieved quickly and spectacularly, in one night. In the first reading of yesterday's Mass, we heard the account of the institution of the Passover—a ritual to commemorate this sudden liberation each year. It had to be celebrated quickly, standing, with girded loins and staff in hand, ready to leave.
In the Gospel, we see that Jesus Himself is not exempt from such confrontations. He does not refuse verbal confrontations with the Pharisees and the Doctors of the Law. But He never responds to violence with violence. He knows that He will ultimately be the victim of violence, but He does not desire it and avoids it as long as His hour has not come. In today's Gospel, we see that when the Pharisees are plotting His death, while He is performing a miracle in the synagogue, He decides to withdraw to a deserted place, because His time has not yet come, and the crowd of little ones follows Him and He delivers them from their ills.
This scene gives Matthew the opportunity to quote Isaiah's beautiful text on the Servant of God, the Messiah, filled with the Spirit, who does not argue or raise His voice in the streets, but who also does not break the already crushed reed or extinguish the still smouldering wick, and who breaks down all barriers, since He is the very hope of the pagan nations. This text should inspire both the ‘decision-makers’ locked in their bunkers and the demonstrators in the streets. It should also inspire each and every one of us in the small conflicts that often make up our daily lives.
Armand VEILLEUX