Exodus 1:8-14, 22 / Matthew 10:34 - 11:1
A bully can be seen as someone who seeks to harm or intimidate those whom they perceive as vulnerable.
Obviously, a bully would use some advantages that he has over those whom he is bullying.
It may be his bigger size, or that he has a gang with him, or that he has some higher backing.
The bully also knows that the ones he is bullying are not able to fight back or retaliate.
But the sinister side of bullies is that they have underlying motives like oppression, extortion and even enslavement.
In the 1st reading, the Pharaoh can be called a big bully.
He had power and authority, as well as an army, and he used it to oppress and to enslave the Israelites.
And he even resorted to infant genocide so as to preempt any future opposition.
But whether it was the Pharaoh or the present-day bullies, they forget that there is a God, and God is watching them in their misdeeds.
And God will deliver those who are oppressed and tormented.
Let us pray that those in authority and those who have power will realise that they will have to be accountable for what they have been given.
May they use their authority and power for justice and for the good of the lowly and helpless.