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	YOU WILL ALWAYS BE AROUND

The Gospel

MATTHEW 12:15b-21

Many people followed Jesus and he cured them all, though he sternly ordered them not to make public what he had done. This was to fulfill what had been said through Isaiah the prophet: "Here is my servant whom I have chosen, my loved one in whom I delight. I will endow him with my spirit and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not contend or cry out, nor will his voice be heard in the streets. The bruised reed he will not crush; the smoldering wick he will not quench until judgment is made victorious. In his name, the Gentiles will find hope."

The Media

"No One"

Alicia Keys

"I just want you close where you can stay forever. You can be sure that it will only get better. I don’t worry 'cause everything’s going to be alright. People keep talking; they can say what they like. No one can get in the way of what I’m feeling. No one can get in the way of what I feel for you. When the rain is pouring down and my heart is hurting, you will always be around: this I know for certain."

The lady of the relationship in Alicia Keys' song "No One" is quite sure of what the relationship means to her. She feels strongly that the love she has with the man is a good one, that he will give himself to her, and that it will last forever.

If there is one message that is absolutely clear from the Gospels, it is the message that Jesus cured people. As Matthew says directly, "He cured them all." Jesus was always a kind healer who would not turn anyone down if they came to him with faith. Matthew the evangelist read Isaiah the prophet and thought of Jesus as a person in whom everyone could find hope.

Such is the feeling that Alicia Keys sings of in her song "No One." There is total confidence in the other person of the relationship: "You will always be around," she sings. One is led to believe that because she has such confidence, her life will be so much better. When we feel that someone truly cares for us and loves us, we will be able to face our own world with the conviction that everything will work out well, no matter what the circumstances.

Christians can study the confidence and hope that Alicia Keys sings of in her song, and understand that they can have the same confidence in Jesus Christ. Jesus inspired hope and confidence among his followers in the first century, and continues to give that same hope to the people of our modern day. When we feel the pain of days and worries of the night, or the evil words of people who want to hurt us, or when we say, "my heart is hurting," the Christian can turn to their God present in Jesus and with conviction say to him: "You will always be around: this I know for certain."

THOUGHT

In whom do most people place their hope in today's world?

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son truly loved the people of his day, and our faith tells us that he continues to care for us as we turn to you in prayer. Give us the hope that we need so that we can lead our lives with the conviction that you will always be with us. Be with us, we pray.

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike