WEDNESDAY, THIRTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Gn 21: 5, 8-20 Ps 34: 7-8, 10-13 Mt 8: 28-34
HE SEES, HE LISTENS
We are presented today with Hagar, a woman stripped of dignity, cast into the wilderness, yet cradled in the mercy of God. As an enslaved woman, she possessed no societal power, yet God demonstrated His boundless grace toward her and her son, Ishmael. Genesis recounts Sarai’s harsh treatment of pregnant Hagar, driving her to flee. Yet, in her despair, God’s angel sought her, assuring her of His protection. The name ‘Ishmael’ means “God hears.” Hagar, in turn, named the God she encountered El Roi, “the God who sees me,” affirming that even in her abandonment, she was never invisible to Him. When Hagar and Ishmael were exiled by Abraham and Sarai (first reading), they faced death in the desert. Parched and desperate, Hagar wept, but God, ever compassionate, opened her eyes to a well of life-saving water.
Hagar’s story mirrors the mission of Christ, who entered the world to see, hear, and uplift the broken. In today’s Gospel, Jesus restores a demon-possessed man to wholeness, reaffirming that no one is beyond divine love. Our world still has countless Hagars – refugees, the homeless, the economically oppressed – and many Ishmaels – children of fractured families or societal rejects. They cry out, longing to be seen and heard. The question for us is: How can we become Christ’s hands and heart in their lives? By advocating for justice, extending compassion, and refusing to overlook those the world discards, we participate in God’s redemptive work. Like Hagar, may we always remember: El Roi sees, Ishmael’s God hears, and through us, His love can reach the forsaken.
Let us examine our own lives: Do we turn away from modern-day Hagars, or do we, like God, stop and listen? Small acts of kindness, advocacy for the oppressed, and intentional inclusion can make us vessels of divine love. In a world that often silences the weak, may we be the ones who ensure their cries are heard and their worth affirmed, just as God did for Hagar.
Response: The lowly one called, and the Lord heard him.
Copyright ©2025 ©Springs of Living Water http://springs.carmelmedia.in