A reflection on Luke 11:47-54, showing how Jesus faced provocation and how we can respond with patience and peace in our daily life. (16-10-25)
Praise be to Jesus Christ
Once there was a calm dog in a village. This dog used to sleep under a big tree in the afternoon. One day, while the dog was sleeping, a small naughty monkey came and started teasing the dog. The monkey pulled his tail, jumped on his back, and made a lot of noise. Initially, the dog just tried to ignore the monkey and its play. He wanted peace. But the monkey did not stop. Finally, the dog lost its patience and barked and bit the monkey. The monkey ran for life. Seeing this, the villagers said, “Even the calmest can be forced to react when provoked too much.”
That is what comes to my mind when I read today’s Gospel. It says, “As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak” (Luke 11:54). Jesus knew what it was to be pressed, poked, challenged, and tested. People tried to trap him with their words, wanted him to slip, wanted him to react. But he did not react the way most of us would. He stayed calm, spoke the truth, and showed love even when they were pushing him hard.
And isn’t life like that too? We all get provoked, don’t we? Maybe it’s a family member snapping at us, a friend being unfair, a colleague stirring trouble. Sometimes, we even provoke others ourselves without noticing. That’s human. But Jesus is telling us something big: don’t get carried away. Don’t start quarrels. Don’t look for faults. Be calm. Be patient. Be the one who brings peace, even when everything around is pushing you to react.
Saint Francis de Sales said something beautiful about this: “Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them—the next step is to forgive and to love.” When someone provokes you, first look at yourself. Are you adding fire to the situation? Are you ready to snap back? True faith is lived in those moments, not just in church or prayers. In the home, with your kids, with your spouse, with your neighbours, that’s where Jesus wants his peace to shine.
Even the Old Testament tells us the same thing. Proverbs says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1). God is looking at how we handle these moments. Are we building love or building walls?
So, next time someone pushes you, teases you, or even tries to trap you with their words, remember the calm dog. Stay patient. Don’t provoke. Speak truth with love. Bring peace, even when it is hard. Our families, our homes, our world need that kind of calm and courage more than anything else.
Jesus, help me to respect others…
Don’t provoke me to 😁