Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs
The scribes and Pharisees were plotting “to catch him at something he might say.” What they reveal in their attitude towards Jesus is the human tendency to try to trap, try to expose, try to dismantle the other through their own words. We can easily get caught up in this, especially when we feel threatened by the other somehow. “They’re really not that good, moral, intelligent, consistent…” Fill in the blank. Our memories and our intellect become valuable weapons for our strategy to lay bare the real nature of our target.
When we take on such a posture, we cease to look at them as brother or sister. We see them as an enemy. Though we may not wish them death, our eyes, our ears, and our senses are not in tune with the Spirit of life. May Jesus, who suffered the hostilities so well known to our human race, give us his Spirit of love and mercy. May his holy martyrs St. John de Brébeuf and St. Isaac Jogues who held strong in their witness to this Spirit, strengthen us with their prayer.