SAINT APOLLINARIS, BISHOP AND MARTYR (OPTIONAL MEMORIAL)

The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus.

The Pharisees in today’s Gospel were clearly disturbed by what they had just witnessed: Jesus had performed a healing on the Sabbath by restoring a man’s withered hand (Matthew 12:10-13). And this wasn’t the first time Jesus had transgressed the sabbath restrictions, either! As far as they were concerned, Jesus was a rabble-rouser and a blasphemer, and so they “took counsel against” him (12:14).

How sad that these men misunderstood so much about Jesus! They couldn’t see that he was the long-awaited Messiah, God’s “beloved in whom I delight” (Matthew 12:18). And they didn’t understand what his purpose was: to save them from their sins.

If you’re a follower of Jesus, you’ve likely felt misunderstood at times as well. Perhaps family members or friends wonder why you spend so much time in church. Maybe coworkers find it odd that you don’t join in the company gossip. Or perhaps an offer to pray with someone is met with rejection.

Notice that Jesus didn’t allow the Pharisees’ plot to deter him from fulfilling what God had called him to do (Matthew 12:17). Despite their suspicions and false accusations, he didn’t fight back or try to explain himself. In fact, after healing the man, he simply “withdrew from that place” and continued to preach and heal (12:15).

That’s a lesson for us whenever we are feeling misunderstood because of our faith. We don’t have to rush to explain our actions or defend ourselves. At the same time, we don’t want to nurture resentment against the people who might be judging us. Nor should we allow their reactions to keep us from accomplishing the work that God has called us to do.

Maybe you can think of a few people in your life who misconstrue or are puzzled by your Christian beliefs or actions. Pray for them today; ask the Lord to bless them and reveal more of his love and mercy to them. Then pray for yourself—for the courage and perseverance to follow Jesus, whatever the cost!

“Jesus, help me to accept the uncomfortable feeling of being misunderstood.”

Micah 2:1-5
Psalm 10:1-4, 7-8, 14
Matthew 12:14-21