Catechism Links[1]
CCC 227, 2613, 2665, 2772: patience
CCC 439, 547-550, 1751: Jesus performs messianic signs
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“The Prophet Isaiah” by Lorenzo
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Commentary:
Reading 1: Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10
Commentary on Is 35:1-6a, 10
The Prophet Isaiah envisions the beauty of the land as the people of Israel return from the Babylonian exile for his contemporaries. The dignity and strength of those exiled will be restored: "Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing." For later generations this is seen as a vision of the coming of the Messiah, who comes with healing hands to lift up the poor and those seen as punished by God.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10
R. (cf. Is 35:4) Lord, come and save us.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Commentary on Ps 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10
Psalm 146 is from the wisdom tradition. Here we are given a vision of God’s salvation. His saving power (envisioned in the oracle of Isaiah and fulfilled in Jesus the Christ) lifts up the poor and the down-trodden. The Lord heals those afflicted with every sort of malady.
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Reading II: James 5:7-10
Commentary on Jas 5:7-10
The Apostle exhorts the faithful, especially those persecuted for their faith, to be patient and not to lose faith in the Lord. He encourages them to stay unified, supporting each other and not to turn on one another in frustration ("Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another, that you may not be judged."). St. James recalls that the Hebrew Prophets were also persecuted, yet remained faithful.
“Those oppressed by the unjust rich are reminded of the need for patience, both in bearing the sufferings of human life (James 5:9) and in their expectation of the coming of the Lord. It is then that they will receive their reward (James 5:7-8, 10-11; cf Hebrews 10:25; 1 John 2:18).”[5]
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Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11
Commentary on Mt 11:2-11
In this selection from St. Matthew’s Gospel, St. John the Baptist sends his disciples to question Jesus. He does so because his expectation of the prophesied Messiah, based upon great Hebrew Prophets, is of one coming with power and majesty, “his winnowing fan will be in his hand.” In response the Lord directs them to see the Messiah as Isaiah’s oracle predicted (Isaiah 35:1-6). It can be seen as a warning not to disbelieve because the expectations of a “Royal Messiah” were not met.
The Gospel continues with the Lord turning to the crowd and praising St John’s role, likening him to Elijah who was to come, preparing the way for the Messiah. He concludes this passage with a statement about the reward given to those who hear and believe in the Kingdom of God.
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Reflection:
The Gospel message summarizes the vision of both the incarnation of Jesus and the vision of his coming again. It also does one more very important thing: it asks a question that we must answer for ourselves. In the Gospel Jesus is speaking to the disciples of St. John the Baptist (it is likely St. Andrew was among them). They came to him with a rather insulting question. They ask him directly if he is the Messiah. As if to add injury, they finish their question with: “…or should we look for another?”
The reason for this question goes back to what we have heard from scripture previously. Recall the words of St. John the Baptist as he spoke to the Sadducees and Pharisees about the Messiah: “Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:10-12)
The Baptist was expecting the Lord to come with authority and power like Elijah, calling down the wrath of God on those who opposed him. In a breath, the Lord changed everything. He told St. John’s disciples, quoting Isaiah’s vision, that he was the Messiah, and they did not need to look elsewhere. The Baptist had just looked at the wrong prophecy. Justice for the unjust would come later. First, God’s love and the hope of things not seen must be brought to the poor, the crippled, the blind and the mute, those seen by others as being punished by God.
As if to emphasize his point he turned to the crowd and asked them about St. John
The Gospel message is crystal clear today. The Lord asks us during this, our season of great expectation, what it is we expect. It is a difficult question for us but one we need to pray on. On this “Little Easter,” on this “Eighth Day,” we pray that our hope is the hope God gives, not what the world gives. We also pray for the patience St. James mentions as we see the hope of eternal life dawn at the Nativity of the Lord.
Pax
In other years on this date: Optional Memorial for Saint Damasus I, Pope
[1] Catechism links are taken from the Homiletic Directory, Published by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 29 June 2014
[2] The picture is “The Prophet Isaiah” by Lorenzo Monaco , 1405-10
[5] See NAB Footnote on James 5:7ff
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