Understanding the Word

By Br. John R. Barker, OFM

The beginning of this passage from Isaiah combines fierce language  of the Divine Warrior with pastoral images of the Divine Shepherd.  Together the two metaphors evoke confidence in God’s power and  desire to save, which is motivated by care for God’s “flock.” The  highway in the wilderness is the path of the Divine Warrior, who  marches into Babylon to retrieve Israel. The language of “reward”  and “recompense” refers to plunder that a warrior could expect to  gain from pillaging conquered lands. Here the “war booty” is God’s  own people. God gently scoops them up and brings them home.  The overall image is of a fiercely loyal Warrior on a rescue mission,  marching into enemy territory to retrieve (redeem) the Chosen People. 

The community to which Peter in his Second Letter writes has  struggled to be faithful in the face of persecution, and has doubts  about the delay in the Lord’s return or the coming of the day of the  Lord. The apparent delay also challenges fervor and perseverance  in discipleship. Peter first assures them that the “delay” is only from  their limited human perspective; in fact, it is for their benefit that the  Lord does not return right away, as it gives time for repentance. But  be assured, he says, that the day of the Lord will come and when it  comes, the Lord will want to find this people faithful, holy, devoted,  “without spot or blemish.” 

Last week’s Gospel reading featured Jesus warning his listeners  not to put off repentance. At the beginning of today’s Gospel, we  have John the Baptist also warning his listeners to be prepared for  the (first) coming of the Son of God. The baptism John preaches is  one of both repentance and forgiveness. His message is not simply  “repent,” but also “allow yourselves to be forgiven.” Both repentance  and forgiveness prepare the crowds for the One who is coming, the  One who will complete the work by making it possible for the people  to receive the Holy Spirit, the divine agent of sanctification, ensuring  that repentance and forgiveness bear lasting fruit. 

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