Wonderful Things (Matthew 21:15)

 


Tuesday, 4 November, 2025


Psalms 11; 12

2 Kings 13:1-13

Matthew 21:14-22


Observance: Day for Anglicans and Roman Catholics to pray for one another [General Synod 2001]


Wonderful Things (Matthew 21:15)


But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that Jesus did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant.


What kind of frame of mind does one have to be in, in order to be indignant at someone doing wonderful things? When a wonderful thing happens, do we join in the wonder?


Many who are in ministry will tell you that, when walking alongside someone else in their spiritual discernment, a good question for reflection begins with the words, “I wonder”. It could just be a common turn of phrase, meaning the idea of questioning in a general sense.


But deeper than that is the idea of being in wonder. God is doing things in and around us all the time, and when God revealed himself in the Person of Jesus, the things he did were wonderful. That is, Jesus’ actions were cause for wonder, and in the same way, God’s actions today are cause for wonder.


Here in South-East Queensland we are moving through Spring towards Summer. Sub-tropical weather gets everyone throwing around their opinions. But what if we were to wonder at it? It always follows the same cycle: things get really hot and humid, and it feels like we are almost at breaking point, and then skies explode with lightning, thunder and rain. That is to say, even the weather itself is cause for wonder.


The children saw the wonderful things Jesus did, and celebrated with the words “Hosanna to the Son of David!” How might we see the wonderful things God is doing now, and rejoice in wonder and praise like those children?


God of wonder, whose works are beyond the limits of human understanding: grant us a sense of child-like wonder at all that you do, that we may never be indignant, but rather let forth the praise of hosanna.

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