“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved in whom I delight;
I shall place my spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
He will not contend or cry out,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory.
And in his name the Gentiles will hope.” (Matthew 12:18-21 NABRE)
Strong leaders are always invested with authority. When the authority is real, they can lead with a power that does not involve subjugation, humiliation, intolerance, or intimidation. Instead, a truly good and powerful leader, because of his authority, can lead with gentleness, kindness, acceptance, and encouragement.
Jesus is such a leader, described here as a servant, chosen and loved by God. He delights God and has a purpose and power placed upon him by God. Jesus is not contentious or argumentative. He is utterly gentle though his purpose is to bring justice (and hope) to the entire world.
In today's passage, Matthew describes Jesus by quoting the prophet Isaiah (42:1-4). In context, Jesus had quietly withdrawn from the synagogue because he realized the Pharisees had determined to have him put to death. According to the gospel writer, this was to fulfill what Isaiah had prophesied hundreds of years before. The linking of Jesus with Isaiah would have resonated deeply with his Jewish-Christian audience because they would have known well the words of this prophet.
Today, I will marvel at the gentle power of Jesus.
Saint Camillus de Lellis, patron of hospitals, nurses and the sick, pray for us.
No comments:
Post a Comment