conflicting reports
"Those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured; indeed, the whole crowd was trying to touch Him because power went out from Him which cured all." —Luke 6:18-19
Luke has just finished recounting five conflicts the religious leaders had with Jesus. They got upset with Jesus over the observance of the sabbath, fasting, the company He kept, and claiming authority to forgive sins. At the end of round five, the religious leaders "became frenzied and began asking one another what could be done to Jesus" (Lk 6:11).
Natural responses to a barrage of complaints and accusations include disturbance, fear, resentment, and withdrawal. Instead, Jesus responded by "spending the night in communion with God" (Lk 6:12), selecting the twelve apostles (Lk 6:13), and healing the sick (Lk 6:19).
Let's pray for the grace to respond to a barrage of conflicts in the same way Jesus did: by not being perturbed but remaining calm so that we "will be able to pray" (1 Pt 4:7). When we're going through the agony in the garden, we must take a long time to pray. We should also select others to support us in prayer, even if this exposes us to further rejection. Finally, we should place our own hurts in God's hands and, although wounded, reach out to heal others.
Prayer: Jesus, give me the grace to make a supernatural response to conflicts.
Promise: "You have been washed, consecrated, justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God."—1 Cor 6:11
Praise: Anna was listening to a Catholic radio program when the car she was driving was totalled in a high-speed accident. She was spared serious injury, to the amazement of the tow truck and ambulance drivers.
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, March 30, 2012
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