A Wholesome Response!

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Gen 32:23-33; Mt 9:32-38

Today’s Gospel highlights that goodness must become our way of life. 

The first part of the Gospel presents the opposition that Jesus encounters on account of the exorcism he performs to cure a demoniac. Here, the enemies of Jesus attribute the miracle to the work of demons. Sadly, in their jealousy and anger toward Jesus, the haters of Jesus do not hesitate even to sanctify demons by claiming that even the goodness of Jesus has its origin in the prince of demons. It is obvious that the enemies of Jesus cannot stomach his rising popularity and are marked by such viciousness that they declare anyone holy only to show Jesus as unholy.

If this was the attitude of Jesus’ haters toward him, Jesus’ response is totally different. Even when his enemies are busy accusing Jesus in an unjustified manner, he is busy catering to the needs of the people. Not wasting his energy on those who hate him, Jesus turns toward those who need him most. He is happy and content to minister to those who look like sheep without a shepherd. In sum, Jesus has no plans to back down even in the face of constant threats and opposition, and what propels him is the mission that lies ahead. 

If we can decode Jesus’ response, it teaches us three valuable lessons. 

1. Jesus’ response wins over the negativity that is spread about him. He does not curse darkness. He dispels it by the light of his works. 

2. Jesus’ attitude shows that nothing should compromise our mission for God. If the needy are the invisible face of God, our mission is to praise God by uplifting them. 

3. In the face of opposition and enmity, Jesus teaches that goodness is its own reward. Instead of longing for human approval, we must strive for conformity with God’s will. 

Let us pray for the grace to imitate Jesus’ goodness. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar