Monday of week 18 in Ordinary Time
Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major
Gospel – Matthew 14:13-21
“When Jesus received the news of John the Baptist’s death he withdrew by boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves”. This is touching moment in the life of Jesus. The martyrdom of John the Baptist is a prefiguration for what is expecting in the calvary. And it is profound to meditate how Jesus is handling this moment. St. Matthew says that he withdrew by boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. Three points to note: withdrawing, to a lonely place, to be by themselves. The first is the withdrawing from the noise, from the surroundings, and from the distractions. Then is the lonely place. Withdrawing becomes real when it is a withdrawal to a lonely place where you can listen to the voice of God, the voice of your mission, the voice of your vocation. The third is to be by themselves. This is the moment of unity between Jesus and disciples. The sad news of the beheading of John is a moment of trial. In the moments of trial, we must stand united among ourselves. It should not be a moment of blaming one another but a moment of being by ourselves united. This moment of Jesus gives us light, how to deal sad moments in our life. Let’s reflect: Do I handle sad moments in my life as Jesus handled it when He received the news of John the Baptist’s death?
Don Giorgio