Listen

People who were blind and lame came to Jesus in the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and legal experts saw the amazing things he was doing and the children shouting in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were angry. They said to Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?”

“Yes,” he answered. “Haven’t you ever read, From the mouths of babies and infants you’ve arranged praise for yourself?” Then he left them and went out of the city to Bethany and spent the night there.

Matthew 21:14-17

Think

Evidence shows the blind and lame were typically excluded from the temple as they were not considered pure. After Jesus cleared the temple, however, they came seeking to be healed, and Jesus did heal them. The children who witnessed this praised Jesus and shouted Hosanna, but the chief priests were angry. Were they angry because of the loud praise causing a commotion? Were they angry because the impure were in the temple? Were they jealous of the attention Jesus was receiving? It is likely it was all of the above and probably more.

It was the young people who recognized that what was once unfair has been made fair through Jesus. It was the young people who celebrated the inclusivity Jesus brought. It made some people angry, but perhaps there were others who heard the children and responded positively.

Do you see places in the world or in your community where some are excluded? What can you say or do to shed a light on injustice?

Katherine Doyle

Pray

Dear God, thank you for teaching that all are equally valued in your eyes.

Thank you for loving the whole world and for including everyone.

Teach me to open my eyes and heart to be inclusive as you were.

Amen.

Go

We are to model Jesus’s life.

How can you serve God and others today?