Mt 11:20-24 Little Did They Know

Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week In Ordinary Time.

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Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented.

Last night I spent some time with a couple that lost their daughter Taylor in a freak ski accident.  By the grace of God, they transformed this tragedy into a blessing. 

It wasn’t easy.

At first they blamed themselves for the tragedy.  Later on they blamed God.  But once they were able to see beyond the events and themselves, they began work on an all-important life giving organ donation foundation.  They named it “Taylor’s Gift.” 

They wrote a book.  They didn’t write it immediately.  How could they?  If they had done so, they would have had to rewrite it; not just add on to it.

In the light of the present, events from the past require constant reinterpretation.    

A few months ago I read their story.  And although I was a part of their story, I didn’t know half their story.  I didn’t know all the people and all their stories.  I didn’t know all the events and how they seamlessly connected.  I didn’t know all the lives that would be saved and be renewed with faith, hope and love. 

After reading this book, I realized that their story transcended their lives, their family and their hometown.  It became very apparent to me that our lives are never over, not even in death.

What will happen next?  “A certain man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman, who conceived and bore a son.  Seeing that he was a goodly child, she hid him for three months.  When she could hide him no longer, she took a papyrus basket, daubed it with bitumen and pitch, and putting the child in it, placed it among the reeds on the river bank.   His sister stationed herself at a distance to find out what would happen to him” (Ex 2:1-15a).

Little did she know that her brother would become one of the most important figures in Jewish history:  Moses.  Little did she know that he would liberate their people.  Little did she know that he would lead them to the Promised Land.  Little did she know that her brother would become the “image and likeness” of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the true liberator of all people and the one who would lead his people from the slavery of sin to the real Promised Land, Heaven.

Little did she know.  Little did he know.  But most importantly, little of it did they see happen. 

The Jewish people lived by faith and trust in God.  They didn’t need to see it all.  They believed in it all, and because they believed, then the promise turned into reality, just like the Word became flesh. 

Little did the towns know who they were rejecting.  Little faith did they have.

Let’s not repeat the errors of history.  Let's not jump to conclusion in the face of tragedy.  Let’s embrace our Divine Savior and hope in good things to come.