Word to the Wise
Sunday, September 9, 2018 - 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - B
[Isa 35:4-7a; Jas 2:1-5; Mark 7:31-37]SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2018 TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME [Isaiah 35:4-7a; James 2:1-5; Mark 7:31-37] “Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared....” [Isaiah] These words from the prophecy of Isaiah in today’s first scripture would have been known to those who witnessed Jesus’ healing of the man who was deaf, in the gospel scripture for today. “He has done all things well. He makes the dear hear and the mute speak.” But Jesus tells the people not to talk about it. Scripture scholars refer to this reluctance on Jesus’ part as “the Messianic secret.” The general theory is that Jesus did not want his ministry to be brought to a premature end by attracting the wrong kind of attention. And, it seems to be part of the Evangelist Mark’s story that no one would really know who Jesus is until he died and rose from the dead. In the matter of getting people to keep Jesus’ miraculous actions secret, there was considerable failure! However, to the end in Mark’s story, the disciples seemed to be struggling to understand Jesus, and it was only with Jesus’ death and resurrection that they came to a full realization. Thus the focus was not to be on signs and wonders but on the person of Jesus. The common expectation of a messiah that would liberate the land from the Roman occupation and other persecution would not be fulfilled. Jesus did indeed fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy but not in the way that some expected. Politics and miracles are a potent mix but they can distract from the central message of repentance and love of God and neighbor. The second scripture today, from the Letter of James, can serve as a reminder of the orientation we should have that will make the Kingdom of God real. Care for the poor and oppressed is the greatest sign we can offer. AMEN
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