(Please read the Scripture passage before reading the homily.)
This month, as we prepare for the birth of Christ, we can view passages from the prophets that can relate to the life and actions of Christ. These blogs are based on the Lectionary used by the Roman Catholic Church. Each weekday has two readings, one from the Hebrew or the non-Gospel readings from the Greek Scriptures, and one from the Gospels. It seems that for the first two and a half weeks, the Gospel passages were chosen to reflect the message given in the first reading, very often that from the prophet Isaiah.
For example, the passage of Matthew’s Gospel (9:27-31) about the healing of two blind men reflects on the passage from Isaiah listed above. Great change is coming: cedars shall become fruit trees and a forest of fruit trees shall become an orchard of fruit trees; the deaf shall hear; the blind shall see; the poor will rejoice in the Lord; and tyranny will end.
Isaiah was looking to the end time when all would be made right. Matthew presents Jesus as making the end time present in Jesus. We, who hear the Word of God proclaimed or who encounter the Word in the Bible, are challenged to experience the presence of Jesus in the end-times of our lives. We are further challenged to be the means Jesus uses to present himself to the world.
Using the imagery of Isaiah, we are the ones to bring hearing to the deaf, sight to the blind, joy to the poor, and to bring liberation from tyranny. From our actions, from the depth of our inmost being, from our hearts, people are supposed to see the presence of Christ. Our actions will speak like the light of seven suns of the radiance of God if we let Christ control our lives.
The gospel-writers wrote the Gospel with an eye on the ancient prophets to show Jesus as t he fulfilment of the prophets. We read the Gospels are to find in them the instruction and challenge to conform our work to the standard of Christ and so allow the ancient prophecies to find fulfilment in our day. We are supposed to be in tune with Isaiah and with Christ.