EllHoyah

In today’s Gospel, the scribes and Pharisees ask Jesus for a sign. At first, that doesn’t seem like a bad request. After all, if someone claims to be sent by God, wouldn’t you want proof?

Have you ever wished God would immediately remove everything that is bad from the world? Every injustice, every sinner, every failure, every temptation?

The Gospel today begins with a sad reality: “The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death.” Imagine that. Jesus had just healed a man, yet instead of celebrating the miracle, His enemies planned His destruction.

Have you ever noticed that sometimes we can become so focused on doing things right that we forget why we are doing them? In today’s Gospel, Jesus’ disciples are hungry, so they pick some heads of grain to eat as they walk through the fields.

Have you ever prayed and felt like nothing was happening? You ask God for help, healing, or direction, but all you hear is silence. Most of us have experienced that.

Today’s first reading tells us about Assyria, a powerful nation that God allowed to become an instrument of His justice. But there was a problem. Assyria forgot that it was only an instrument.

There is something surprising about today’s Gospel. Jesus is not speaking to people who have never heard of Him. He is speaking to towns where He preached, healed the sick, cast out demons, and performed many miracles.

Jesus says something in today’s Gospel that can make us uncomfortable: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword.” So what does He mean? Jesus is not talking about violence or war.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower. Notice something interesting. The sower is the same. The seed is the same. The only thing that changes is the soil.

If I asked you this morning, “What is your biggest fear?” what would you say? Maybe it’s failing. Maybe it’s losing someone you love.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples: “I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves.” Think about that for a second. Sheep among wolves?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives His disciples a mission. He says, “Go and proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Notice something interesting. Jesus doesn’t tell them, “Wait until you know everything.”

Have you ever planted something? Maybe a flower, a vegetable, or even just watered a houseplant. You know one thing: whatever you plant is what eventually grows.

Imagine this for a moment. Have you ever walked through a busy crowded street? Hundreds of people pass by. Some are smiling. Some are talking. Some are rushing to get somewhere.

Today’s Gospel begins with a father who is desperate. His daughter has just died. Yet instead of giving up, the father runs to Jesus and says something extraordinary: “Lord, come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.” That’s incredible faith.