Earth healed, humanity redeemed

Even nature becomes healed when humanity learns to obey God’s laws and to harmonize its aspirations with divine graces (Isaiah 35:1-6.10). Real joy comes into the world when we recognize God’s ways that empower us to our hope of the future (Matthew 11:2-11).

Coming home

Attributed to the prophet Isaiah from Jerusalem, this section of the book was probably written sometime later in the 6th century BC and by an anonymous “Deutero-Isaiah.” Lyrically, the prophet held out to his people the hope of returning home from the shame and suffering of their exile in Babylon. As in the people’s first exodus from the slavery in Egypt, they would trek through the vast barren desert, but they need not fear the dangers and threats of the impassable wilderness.

Just as the sins of humankind have been interpreted to translate into cosmic upheavals and natural disasters (Genesis 3:16-19), for the environment and humanity have always been considered as integral parts of a harmonious whole, so now the cosmos would reflect the joys of a redeemed people. God’s intervention on their behalf would be manifested by the transformation of their path. With ease and safety they would be able to go directly and quickly through the desert because instead of brambles and thorns, flowers and abundant foliage would speed them home and oases would spring up to comfort them on the road southward all the way to Jerusalem. Lebanon, Sharon and Carmel, three biblical regions synonymous with lush vegetation, would be waiting for the returning pilgrims.  

The coming of the Messiah

Nature’s rejoicing was associated by the prophet with the coming of an ideal leader and king (Isaiah 32:1-6; 41:17-20). Paradise regained meant the time of the Messiah, God’s anointed one. The transformation of nature would correspond with the renewal of the people symbolized by the healing of their many ailments. The exiles themselves would be experiencing the benefits of God’s miraculous action.

“Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication. With divine recompense he comes to save you.” Anxious hearts, slack hands and tottering knees would be no more because in God’s saving power, even the blind would be able to see, the lame walk, the deaf hear and the dumb sing. The prophet borrowed from and amplified Jeremiah’s (31:7-9) prediction of the Israelites’ return from exile in Assyria.  

A Messiah of peace and healing

In last week’s gospel, John the Baptizer had announced the coming of one greater than he, who would lay the ax on fruitless trees and sift the peoples with the winnowing fan of His judgment to burn in unquenchable fire the useless chaff. After being subjugated repeatedly by powerful neighbors, the Israelites yearned for a vindicator, the promised Messiah, who would reestablish God’s people. But Jesus appeared, preaching peace, not a fiery revolution; forgiveness, not the violent end of the wicked. Unsure now of his own expectations, John in prison sent a delegation to Jesus to inquire regarding His messianic intentions. “Are you He who is to come, or do we look for another?”

Alluding to the familiar phrases of Isaiah above, Jesus offered to the disciples of John his healing deeds as a sign that the messianic time had truly begun. Jesus embodied an entirely different aspect of messianic expectation, not one with worldly proportions annihilating enemies of the elect, but one of peace and healing. His greatest messianic activity was to preach the good news to the poor. His miracles were signs of God at work in him, inviting and challenging witnesses to believe. That is why Jesus’s final statement was: “Blessed is the one who takes no offense at me,” a warning not to fall into disbelief just because one’s expectations have not been met.  

Alálaong bagá, though John, unshakeable in his firmness and standing between the age of promise and the age of fulfillment, was the greatest prophet, his mission was merely preparatory. With Jesus, a new standard came into force that superceded all human criteria and previous expectations. This explains why Jesus said that even “the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John.” The prophet Isaiah assured us that we are on the right path, for our cries of joy resound in the vast wilderness of this world. We are like prisoners who no longer fear our jailers because we know that our liberator is at hand. We live now in a state of faith and hope. We already have the signs that point to the presence of the One whom the prophets announced and to the coming of the reign of God, although the trek home is not yet over. We already have especially the signs of His Body and Blood, the pledge and anticipation of the realities to come, even as we carry on with our remaining trial of hope. We say to one another, “Rejoice, fear not! See the ears of the deaf are opened, the lame and crippled dance, the dumb sing for joy!”                

For more of my reflections and works, visit my blogsite: http://alalaongbaga.multiply.com.

AND now for the good news: some people might overlook it, but for those of us frustrated no end by the past years’ spectacle of reenacted budgets and a Congress in deadlock with the Executive on what should be its most important output for the year, i.e., the General Appropriations Act, the pace and developments in this year’s budget process come as a refreshing tableau.

The clock is ticking toward 2015 when the country will be held to account for its commitments to the Millennium Development Goals, or the MDGs.

I think I am having what my friend Eric calls a “senior moment.” It is not so much that I am forgetful. I am not. It is that I tend to lose my patience more easily with other people’s foolishness. And local stock-market investors are starting to annoy me. But before I get to the investors, let me talk about some other dumb people.

About Town: Unflattering surveys

The Arroyo administration definitely scored precious political points with its tough handling of the November 29 Peninsula standoff, thus allowing it to weather another political challenge to its continuance in office. But that shouldn’t mean it can afford to be complacent.

Coming home

Attributed to the prophet Isaiah from Jerusalem, this section of the book was probably written sometime later in the 6th century BC and by an anonymous “Deutero-Isaiah.”

So much disappointment in so many quarters over something so expected. Go figure.

The Federal Reserve ratified consensus expectations yesterday when it lowered both its benchmark overnight rate and discount rate by 25 basis points to 4.25 percent and 4.75 percent, respectively.