Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
~~~ Is. 35:4-7a ~~~ Psalm 146 ~~~ James 2: 1-5 ~~~ Mark 7: 31-37 ~~~
The Prophet Isaiah is foretelling the wonderful things that will happen
when the Messiah comes.
"...Here is your God,
he comes with vindication;
with divine recompense
he comes to save you..."
he comes with vindication;
with divine recompense
he comes to save you..."
When I was little we were excited to have our very first tiny black and white television. We would gather around this colorless box to be entertained.
Back then we could only dream of how a color picture might eventually be seen from the same box. The two telescopic antennae rising high above the box made it seem that much more unreal. How was the picture coming into that box?
What part did those silver antennas play?
When Jesus came, through his public ministry he began
to fulfill the prophecies.
The prophets were like watching the black and white TV.
When Jesus came all that he said and did was
so much more vivid than the prophecies had foretold.
Jesus was the prophecies brought to life in technicolor.
He was the first reality show, to tap into their current popularity.
Can you imagine the reporters and cameramen of today following Jesus around.
Capturing on real time video everything he did...what he ate...who he cured...the words of his parables...his common hand gestures as he spoke...his facial expressions.
His private times away in prayer.
The promises Isaiah is proclaiming...
"...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.
Streams will burst forth in the desert,
and rivers in the steppe.
The burning sands will become pools,
and the thirsty ground, springs of water..."
the ears of the deaf be cleared;
then will the lame leap like a stag,
then the tongue of the mute will sing.
Streams will burst forth in the desert,
and rivers in the steppe.
The burning sands will become pools,
and the thirsty ground, springs of water..."
The psalm goes on the sing of all that the Lord does...
...gives food...
...sets captives free...
...sight to blind...
...protects strangers...
...sustaining orphans and widows...
Jesus could have just walked about the countryside
without interacting with anyone near him
and still worked his miracles.
But instead he interacted with people as a compassionate
caring person.
A real caring person.
Jesus brought the prophecies to life in technicolor.
Without the death and Resurrection of Jesus
our own lives would have not have the
opportunity to live in technicolor.
We can choose to have our eyes and ears opened
by this very same person of God...
Jesus.
He does still open the eyes and ears of those who believe today.
Allow God to bring the technicolor back into your life.
Pay attention...
your eyes and ears will
"Be opened!" --
"Ephphatha!"--
May your blessings today
be not only in technicolor but in high definition.
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