Praise Of GOD's Fidelity

 "Blessed are they whose help is the GOD of Jacob,

whose hope is in YAHWEH their GOD,

maker of heaven and earth,

the sea and all they contain.

YAHWEH is forever faithful;

HE gives justice to the oppressed

and gives food to the hungry.

YAHWEH sets the prisoners free.

YAHWEH gives sight to the blind;

YAHWEH straighten the bent.

YAHWEH protects the stranger;

sustains the widow and the orphan.

YAHWEH loves the virtuous;

but HE brings to ruin the way of the wicked.

YAHWEH will reign forever,

your GOD, O Zion,

from generation to generation.  Alleluia!"

- Psalm 146:5-6. 6-7. 8-9. 9-10

(The Almighty GOD is at our service: the Almighty, the only mighty; we cannot take out a second insurance--we must rely on HIM only, cast all our cares on the LORD, for HE cares for us.

GOD shows the faithfulness of HIS love, for all those who are weak and inclined to seek their salvation in the powerful.  Also, for those who are in a situation of disadvantage because of others [oppressed, hungry, or captive] or because of illness [blind or fainting] or because of other circumstances of life [migrants, orphans and widows] benefit from the loving faithfulness of GOD.  The programmatic discourse of JESUS, in the synagogue of Nazareth: 'HE has sent ME to give Good News to the poor, to announce freedom to prisoners...' [cf. Luke 4:17-22], updates the theme of this psalm.  Human projects could be ambitious and challenging; they will not annul the divine project, however.  If we trust totally in GOD, if we truly believe HIM, we can pray with this psalm.  GOD is the one who liberates the poor.  The more we are convinced of this, the more shall we try to share the LORDS's thoughts, placing our lives at the service of the marginalized, the hungry and the humiliated.)

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Come To ME, All You Who Are Weary And Burdened, And I Will Give You Rest."

"Come to ME, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take MY yoke upon you and learn from ME, for I AM gentle and humble of heart; and you will find rest.  For MY yoke is easy; and MY burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30 

(I will not relieve you of your load but by placing MY yoke on you, I give you the means of carrying the load.

JESUS plays with the two words yoke and load, for the Jews used to call "load" the divine teachings imparted to pupils, and "yoke" the balancing of the teacher's sentences, which should be learned by heart.

JESUS, the patient and humble teacher, enables us to see the mercy of GOD in our lives and in our own cross.  HE shows us the love of GOD even in the requirements of the law.  Only GOD is good; and good is the authority of CHRIST.)

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"I Did Not Come To Call The Righteous, But Sinners."

"What do you think of this?  If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them strays, won't he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside, and go to look for the stray one?  And I tell you, when he finally finds it, he is more pleased about it, than about the ninety-nine that did not go astray.  It is the same with your FATHER in heaven.  Your FATHER in heaven doesn't want even one of these little ones to perish." - Matthew 18:12-14  

(The parable of the one hundred sheep is also found in the Gospel of Luke [15:1].  It teaches us several things: JESUS' special concern for sinners and those who stray and, therefore, the missionary dimension of HIS apostolate.  In fact, JESUS came "to seek and save the lost" [Luke 19:10], "I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners" [Matthew 9:13].  This attitude should impel our parishes and Christian communities to constantly reach out to the unchurched and marginalized, instead of just working with those who already are in touch with the Church.)

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The Annunciation

"In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from GOD to a town of Galilee called Nazareth.  He was sent to a young virgin who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

The angel came to her and said, 'Rejoice, full of grace, the LORD is with you.'  Mary was troubled at these words, wondering what this greeting could mean.

But the angel said, 'Do not fear, Mary, for GOD has looked kindly on you.  You shall conceive and bear a son, and you shall call him JESUS.  HE will be great and shall rightly be called Son of the Most High.  The LORD GOD will give HIM the kingdom of David, his ancestor; HE will rule over the people of Jacob forever and HIS reign shall have no end.'

Then Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be if I am a virgin?'  And the angel said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the holy child to be born shall be called Son of GOD.  Even your relative Elizabeth is expecting a son in her old age, although she was unable to have a child, and she is now in her sixth month.  With GOD nothing is impossible.'

Then Mary said, 'I am the handmaid of the LORD, let it be done to me as you have said.'  And the angel left her." - Luke 1:26-38  

(Only Mary could make known the mystery of JESUS' conception to the primitive church.  How could she express such an inner experience and how would it be reported?  

Therefore, in writing, Luke had to use biblical words and forms that would allow us to understand the mysterious encounter of Mary with GOD.

 

I am the handmaid of the LORD... In saying this, Mary does not lower herself with false humility; instead, she expresses her faith and her surrender.  From her will be born the one who will be both the servant announced by the prophets and the only Son.

 

Many persons are mistaken about the word "servant" in that they view Almighty GOD as using HIS servants to HIS own ends without taking time to look at them and love them.  For them GOD would lose HIS greatness if HE were to give Mary authentic responsibility in the incarnation of her Son.

 

This is quite contrary to the spirit of the Bible.  GOD loves people, HE wishes, HE who is GOD, to experience human friendship.  GOD had no need of a woman to make a human body, but HE wanted to have a mother for HIS Son; and for Mary to really be that mother, it was necessary that GOD looked upon her with greater love than HE had for any other creature.  Thus, Mary is called full of grace.

 

Grace is what we call the power GOD has to heal our spirit, to instill in us the disposition to believe, and to make us resonate with the truth so that the expression of real love comes from us in a spontaneous way.  We call grace that which came from the living GOD to blossom on earth.

 

Mary is full of grace because JESUS was born of her as HE is born of the FATHER.  This is why the Church believes that Mary has a unique role in the work of our salvation.  She is the marvel that GOD achieved at the outset of transforming humankind into HIS image.)

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The Prince Of Peace

"From the stump of Jesse, a shoot will come forth;

from his roots a branch will grow and bear fruit.

The spirit of the Lord will rest upon him -

a Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

a Spirit of counsel and power,

a Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.

Not by appearances will he judge,

nor by what is said must he decide,

but with justice he will judge the poor

and with righteousness decide for the meek.

Like a rod, his word will strike the oppressor,

and the breath of his lips slay the wicked

Justice will be the girdle of his waist,

truth the girdle of his loins.

The wolf will dwell with the lamb,

the leopard will rest beside the kid,

the calf and the lion cub will feed together

and a little child will lead them.

Befriending each other, the cow and the bear

will see their young ones lie down together.

Like cattle, the lion will eat hay.

By the cobra's den the infant will play.

The child will put his hand into the viper's lair.

No one will harm or destroy over my holy mountain,

for as water fills the sea

the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.

On that day the 'Root of Jesse' will be raised as a signal for the nations.  The people will come in search of him, thus making his dwelling place glorious." - Isaiah 11:1-10 

(Those who have read the New Testament know that the Jews of JESUS' time were expecting a Messiah.  This, however, was not always the case.  From Abraham to David, the Israelites were looking for the land promised by GOD and they conquered it.  After David, they thought that a better king could not be found and, during the two and a half centuries that followed, they hoped only that their present and future kings would resemble David.  The very promise that GOD made to David about his descendants was not understood as the announcement of a future Messiah.

Isaiah was the first to announce the Messiah, namely, a king like David but better.  Here HE is presented as a shoot coming from the stump, once the tree has been felled.  Thus, he suggests that the present kings, who are sinners and without much faith, will disappear.  More than a descendant of David, Emmanuel will be a new David [HE is called son of Jesse like David].

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on HIM as it did on the prophets and more so.  The prophets were inspired by a mysterious power called 'Spirit of GOD,' but not at all times.  In HIM, the Spirit would dwell always:

      - a spirit of wisdom and intelligence, as Solomon had;

      - a spirit of prudence and strength, like David's;

      - a spirit of knowledge and respect for the LORD, as Moses and the Patriarchs had.

The renewal of GOD's people will be manifested in nature:  the lion will eat hay.  To put this in modern terms:  thanks to technology and a greater cooperation between people, nature's hostile forces will be placed at the service of humankind.

Beginning with Isaiah, the prophets will see the Messiah, or the future king anointed by GOD, as a man of the Spirit.  When the Spirit of GOD is conferred on believers through the sacrament of confirmation, the Church recalls the Spirit of wisdom, intelligence, strength, etc.)  

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The Coming Prosperity

"O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem, you will weep no more.  When you cry, HE will listen; when HE hears, HE will answer. 

When the LORD has given you the bread of anguish and the water of distress, HE, your teacher will hide no longer.  Your own eyes will see HIM, and your ear will listen to HIS words behind you:  'This is the way, walk in it.' 

HE will then give rain for the seed you sow and make the harvest abundant from the crops you grow.  On that day your cattle will graze in wide pastures. Your beasts of burden will eat silage tossed to them with pitchfork and shovel. 

For on the day of the great slaughter, when fortresses fall, streams of water will flow on every mountain and lofty hill. 

The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun seven times greater, like the light of seven days, when YAHWEH binds up the wounds of HIS people and heals the bruises inflicted by HIS blows." - Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26 

(GOD loves us and teaches us.  This poem speaks of all the marvels to be discovered when meeting GOD through tears.

You will see the uncleanliness of your idols.  People have become aware that they were serving false gods.  Idolatry does not only mean keeping carved gods, but more trusting people, serving institutions and envying the things that these images represent.)

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Triumphant Trust In GOD

 "YAHWEH is my light and my salvation

--whom shall I fear?

YAHWEH is the rampart of my life;

I will not be afraid.

Hear my voice when I call, O YAHWEH,

have mercy on me and answer.

My heart says to YOU,

'I seek YOUR face, O YAHWEH.'

Do not hide YOUR face from me

nor turn away YOUR servant in anger.

YOU are my protector, do not reject me;

abandon me not, O GOD my savior!

I hope I am sure,

that I will see the goodness of YAHWEH

in the land of the living.

Trust in YAHWEH, be strong and courageous

yes, put your hope in YAHWEH!"

- Psalm 27:1. 7-8. 8-9. 13-14

(The anonymous voice of the last verse proposes and ratifies courage rather than fear; hope rather than discouragement.  This is true too for the Christian; before danger, there is a word of encouragement, for instance in John 16:33 and Matthew 14:26.  Here is a beautiful prayer to cultivate the absolute trust of the believer in GOD.)

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Wise And Foolish Builders

"Not everyone who says to ME, 'LORD!  LORD!' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of MY heavenly FATHER.

'Therefore, anyone who hears these words of MINE, and acts according to them, is like a wise man, who built his house on rock.  The rain poured down, the rivers flooded, and the wind blew and struck that house.  But it did not collapse, because it was built on rock.  But anyone who hears these words of MINE, and does not act accordingly, is like a fool who built his house on sand.  The rain poured, the rivers flooded, and the wind blew and struck that house; it collapsed, and what a terrible collapse that was!'" - Matthew 7:21. 24-27 

(Anyone who hears these words of MINE.  JESUS means those who listen to HIS words and are converted: they believe themselves already saved.  If they do not use their initial enthusiasm to build their lives on solid foundations, such as scriptural meditation, generosity, resistance to evil inclinations, sharing in the Christian community--then everything will tumble down later.)

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Second Miracle Of The Loaves

"From there JESUS went to the shore of Lake Galilee, and then went up into the hills where HE sat down.  Great crowds came to HIM, bringing the dumb, the blind, the lame, the crippled, and many with other infirmities.  The people carried them to the feet of JESUS, and HE healed them.  All were astonished when they saw the dumb speaking, the lame walking, the crippled healed and the blind able to see; so they glorified the GOD of Israel.

JESUS called HIS disciples and said to them, 'I AM filled with compassion for these people; they have already followed ME for three days and now have nothing to eat.  I do not want to send them away fasting, or they may faint on the way.'  HIS disciples said to HIM, 'And where shall we find enough bread in this wilderness to feed such a crowd?'  JESUS said to them, 'How many loaves do you have?'  They answered, 'Seven, and a few small fish.'

So JESUS ordered the people to sit on the ground.  Then HE took the seven loaves and the small fish and gave thanks to GOD.  HE broke them and gave them to HIS disciples, who distributed them to the people.

They all ate and were satisfied, and the leftover broken pieces filled seven wicker baskets. - Matthew 15:29-37 

(On two occasions JESUS multiplied bread.  It is one of HIS miracles that most impresses us.

The word "miracle" is often devalued.  The Bible uses different words to denote what clearly appears as an act of GOD: sign, wonder, work of power.  Miracle in its full meaning is all that at the same time: a sign by which GOD makes us discover HIS will or the invisible order of the world, a wonder that disconcerts our limited vision, a work which GOD alone is capable of doing.

The multiplication of loaves is the kind of miracle which most shocks our contemporaries and their absolute faith in the "laws of nature" that GOD HIMSELF would not have the power to surpass, or which HE could not ignore without contradicting HIMSELF.  Many do not openly deny the testimony of the apostles, but they avoid taking any stand and say for example: "The miracle is still more beautiful if we imagine that JESUS merely invited the people to share their individual snacks, so that finally there was enough for everyone: a miracle of solidarity!"

Here the Gospel is not praising solidarity: it wishes rather to celebrate the absolute freedom of GOD and of CHRIST: nature itself must be silent, because here the dead are raised to life.  For a Christian, creation is not a huge machine that GOD has passed on to people as HE abdicated; it is a reflection of GOD where the laws - shadows of the wisdom, the order and the justice that are in GOD - never exclude HIS freedom.

Throughout all Christian history the LORD has multiplied and continues to multiply bread, items of food and even canned food for those who have given everything or risked all for HIM: many are able to witness to this.)

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The Prince Of Peace

"From the stump of Jesse, a shoot will come forth;

from his roots a branch will grow and bear fruit.

The spirit of the Lord will rest upon him -

a Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

a Spirit of counsel and power,

a Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.

Not by appearances will he judge,

nor by what is said must he decide,

but with justice he will judge the poor

and with righteousness decide for the meek.

Like a rod, his word will strike the oppressor,

and the breath of his lips slay the wicked

Justice will be the girdle of his waist,

truth the girdle of his loins.

The wolf will dwell with the lamb,

the leopard will rest beside the kid,

the calf and the lion cub will feed together

and a little child will lead them.

Befriending each other, the cow and the bear

will see their young ones lie down together.

Like cattle, the lion will eat hay.

By the cobra's den the infant will play.

The child will put his hand into the viper's lair.

No one will harm or destroy over my holy mountain,

for as water fills the sea

the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.

On that day the 'Root of Jesse' will be raised as a signal for the nations.  The people will come in search of him, thus making his dwelling place glorious." - Isaiah 11:1-10

(Those who have read the New Testament know that the Jews of JESUS' time were expecting a Messiah.  This, however, was not always the case.  From Abraham to David, the Israelites were looking for the land promised by GOD and they conquered it.  After David, they thought that a better king could not be found and, during the two and a half centuries that followed, they hoped only that their present and future kings would resemble David.  The very promise that GOD made to David about his descendants was not understood as the announcement of a future Messiah.

Isaiah was the first to announce the Messiah, namely, a king like David but better.  Here HE is presented as a shoot coming from the stump, once the tree has been felled.  Thus, he suggests that the present kings, who are sinners and without much faith, will disappear.  More than a descendant of David, Emmanuel will be a new David [HE is called son of Jesse like David].

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on HIM as it did on the prophets and more so.  The prophets were inspired by a mysterious power called 'Spirit of GOD,' but not at all times.  In HIM, the Spirit would dwell always:

      - a spirit of wisdom and intelligence, as Solomon had;

      - a spirit of prudence and strength, like David's;

      - a spirit of knowledge and respect for the LORD, as Moses and the Patriarchs had.

The renewal of GOD's people will be manifested in nature:  the lion will eat hay.  To put this in modern terms:  thanks to technology and a greater cooperation between people, nature's hostile forces will be placed at the service of humankind.

Beginning with Isaiah, the prophets will see the Messiah, or the future king anointed by GOD, as a man of the Spirit.  When the Spirit of GOD is conferred on believers through the sacrament of confirmation, the Church recalls the Spirit of wisdom, intelligence, strength, etc.)  

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