Our Lady Of Perpetual Help

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Reflection -   Week of December 14, 2025

Question of the Week:

If I am honest with myself, what part of Jesus’ message offends me? 

     It is ironic that Jesus leads with “the blind regain their sight” (Matthew 11:5), for John himself has lost his eyes of faith. With eyes of faith, John was able to see the kingdom of heaven at hand, trees bearing good fruit, and chaff thrown into unquenchable fire (as we heard last week), much as Isaiah could see flowers blooming in the desert, disabilities eradicated, and joy banishing sorrow. But in prison he can’t see as he used to and can’t see what Jesus’ disciples are seeing. Can we see past the surface ourselves? Sometimes we feel stuck with our maladies, our problems, and our inadequacies and don’t see the possibilities in the light of Christ. Sometimes reimagining our lives from God’s perspective can make the difference in how we feel about our situation in life.

     It seems incongruous for Jesus to say, “Blessed is the one who takes no offense at me,” after ticking off all the miraculous things he’s done (Matthew 11:6). Yet we know that many took offense. The well-to-do may have resented the poor being raised up. Many regarded lepers as beneath them and their sudden cures didn’t affect the way they felt about them as people. It had been easier to ignore the disabled, the homeless, and the outcasts. By the end of his ministry, the inoffensive little baby in the manger becomes the condemned man on the cross. Radically remaking the world to reflect the kingdom of God threatens the status quo and offends many.