First Reading Commentary (Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7)
In the twelfth chapter of Saint Matthew's
Gospel is found the fulfillment of this prophecy from Isaiah concerning the
Messiah. In fact, this Reading is used
in that chapter to show that Christ has indeed fulfilled it.
Generally, whenever the word
"nations" is used in most modern translations, the older texts
translate as "Gentiles". And
so, the Messiah prophesied here shall bring forth justice to the Gentiles; and
justice means moral and religious discernment and knowledge of right and wrong
which is an attribute of the Messiah.
In the older translations of prophecy the
interpreters tend to approach the Scriptures with a pre-Messianic mindset, and
thus the reader will read that God's plan of salvation will include both Jews
and Gentiles. The more modern
translations use the word "nations" to express a point of view from
the post-Resurrection age to show that there is no longer any distinction
between Jew and Gentile.
It is because of Christ's humble Humanity
that He is called a Servant. "The
coastlands will wait for His teaching" in the Latin Vulgate translates as,
"The islands shall wait for His law" while the Septuagint translates
as, "The Gentiles shall hope in His Name."
From the verse, "I, the Lord, have
called you…" to the end of this Reading seems to be an addition which came
later and is probably not from the original author. These closing verses show that the Messiah's
mission is ordained by God, in which He will be set as a Covenant of the people
-- all people, and a Light for the nations -- all nations.
Christ healed those who were physically
blind but most likely the blindness in this Reading refers to spiritual
blindness in which many were imprisoned and in darkness because of a lack of
spirituality and an obsession for material wealth.
Beyond the
interpretation of Jesus as the Messiah, this Reading also invites us as
individuals to reflect on our own baptism.
In baptism the soul hears the Voice of God saying: "Here is my
servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have
put My Spirit." How faithful have I
been to that calling to be a servant of God?
How committed am I to pleasing Him?
Am I a holy temple in which His Spirit can dwell?
OR:
First Reading Commentary (Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11)
In the opening verse the prophet Isaiah is
referring to the end of Babylonian captivity and prophetically the coming of
the Messiah. The word “service” in the
second sentence is somewhat sugar-coated; most translations opt for words like
“evil” and “warfare”. “Make straight in
the wasteland a highway for our God!
Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made
low; the rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad
valley.” These words should turn our
hearts and minds to the coming of the Messiah as these are the words that were
proclaimed by Saint John the Baptist.
The verse that follows prophetically sets the scene of the Baptism of Christ
as all who were present witnessed the glory of the Lord and heard the Voice of
God say: “You are My beloved Son; with You I am well pleased.”
“Go up on to a high mountain, Zion, herald
of glad tidings; cry out at the top of your voice, Jerusalem, herald of good
news!” The word “mountain” is used here
to symbolically show elevation like placing oneself upon a stage with the whole
world as your audience. The idea here is
to give the image of making sure that everyone can see and hear the good news
proclaimed concerning the coming of the Messiah Who is the Lord God, bringing
His reward which is our salvation.
The final verse is familiar and comforting
as we see the tender side of our Savior Who feeds His flock with His own
precious Body and Blood, gathering together His baptized family, carrying and
leading us with care.
Second Reading Commentary (Acts 10:34-38)
Cornelius was a centurion who was very
devout and believed in Israel's God.
Peter's speech is the first recorded address to Gentiles. Peter publicly states that all nations and
all peoples who act uprightly are acceptable to God. Observance of the Mosaic Law is not a
prerequisite for belonging to God.
The Greek text is a little unclear as to
whether the word that God sent to the Israelites is referring to Jesus Christ,
the eternal "Word", or the "word" meaning Christ's
teachings and/or the Gospel. Most translations
accept it to mean the latter; although the peace proclaimed through Jesus
Christ could not have been proclaimed by anyone else because Jesus is the
Source of true peace.
Peter proclaims
Christ as "Lord of all" which is proof of His Divinity. Peter continues by stating that the Jesus
story began after the baptism that John preached which is an acceptance of John
the Baptist's ministry and a belief that John was part of a divine plan. God anointed Jesus' Human Nature with the
graces of the Holy Spirit so that He may begin His public Ministry as the Messiah.
OR:
Second Reading Commentary (Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7)
There is a difference of opinion among
scholars whether Saint Paul is actually the author of the letter to Titus. Those who believe he is the author believe so
because the writing style is similar to the first letter to Timothy. Those who think otherwise believe so because
in the letter to Titus, Paul writes about departing from Titus and leaving him
to care for the Church in Crete. As far
as we know, Paul has never visited Crete.
The author of this Reading,
regardless of who it is, describes the powerful weapon that love is. It is love that is the driving force of the
grace of God. It is love that has saved
us and continues to train us to reject godless ways. It is God’s love for us that enables us to be
baptized, receiving what this Reading calls the “bath of rebirth”, and becoming
a part of God’s chosen family. Love is
the reason that Jesus gave Himself for us to deliver us from all
lawlessness. This Reading reminds us
that God’s love is given to us out of His kindness and generosity and not
because of any righteous deeds we have done.
It is God’s loving grace that justifies us and makes us heirs of eternal
life. It is that simple, four letter
word that has the power to do so many wonderful things and has already done
miraculous things. As recipients of so
great a gift, it is love that compels us to also offer or share this divine
gift to all those we meet.
Gospel Commentary
There are a handful of reasons why all were
asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. First of all, the circumstances leading up to
John’s birth were a bit unusual: His mother Elizabeth was well past the age of
being able to conceive; his father Zechariah was stricken and left unable to
speak until after John’s birth; plus John’s style of preaching and his ability
to attract followers. There were also
rumors floating around that the Messiah had indeed entered into the world
because of the story of the Magi and the massacre of the Holy Innocents which
occurred during John’s infancy. All of
these reasons were probably still imprinted on the minds of most of the people
which led many to a logical conclusion that John indeed was the Christ.
Receiving John’s baptism was a mere
acceptance of what he preached; and what he preached was that there’s One Who
is coming Who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. Many who heard John’s words were baptized by
him including Jesus. Certainly Jesus was
not in need of anyone’s baptism but He subjected Himself to it to teach
humility and to take His place among sinful men and women even though He
Himself was sinless.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church
teaches: “The Baptism of Jesus is on His part the acceptance and inauguration
of His mission as God’s suffering Servant.
He allows Himself to be numbered among sinners; He is already ‘the Lamb
of God, Who takes away the sin of the world’” (CCC 536).
The Father expresses His approval of the
Son with the words: “You are My beloved Son; with You I am well pleased.” At baptism we become children of God. Give some thought to your own baptism even if
you were too young to remember it. Did
our heavenly Father express those very same words: “You are My beloved
son/daughter; with you I am well pleased?”
John fulfilled the Lord’s work by reaching out to his fellow men and
women; preaching tirelessly for their conversion.
Jesus came to do the will of His heavenly
Father because of His love for the Father.
Jesus took upon Himself the unbearable weight of our own guilty
lives. Both Jesus and John show us that
love for God and love for humanity are never incompatible, but instead, always
intertwined. Saint Gregory Nazianzen advises
us to venerate the Baptism of Christ and celebrate the feast honorably. He exhorts us with these words: “Be cleansed
so that you may be like lights in the world, a life-giving force to all others,
and stand as perfect lights beside that great Light.”
