1st Reading – Isaiah 50:4c-9a

The Lord GOD opens my ear that I may hear;
and I have not rebelled,
have not turned back.
I gave my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who plucked my beard;
my face I did not shield
from buffets and spitting.

The Lord GOD is my help,
therefore I am not disgraced;
I have set my face like flint,
knowing that I shall not be put to shame.
He is near who upholds my right;
if anyone wishes to oppose me,
let us appear together.
Who disputes my right?
Let that man confront me.
See, the Lord GOD is my help;
who will prove me wrong?

This week’s first reading is a portion of Isaiah’s third Servant Song, which we also hear every year on Palm Sunday. In it, the Servant describes his total commitment to following God’s will, even in the face of persecution and humiliation.

Isaiah presented this portrayal of the Suffering Servant as a message of hope to the Israelites during their exile in Babylon. Through their pain of displacement and loss, they could see in the Servant’s experience a reflection of their own struggles. The Servant’s willingness to endure suffering, insults, and mistreatment offered the Israelites a way to understand their own suffering as part of a larger divine plan.

The Servant’s example of unwavering faith and endurance has led many to see him as a prefigurement of Christ.

Continue reading “Sep 15, 2024: 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)” →