vangelo del giorno

When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place

21 JULY (Mt 12,14-21)

Jesus is the Messiah of the Lord, his anointed One, his Christ. In him every prophecy, every word previously revealed by God in the Old Testament; is fulfilled. We can define the Prophet Isaiah, the evangelist of Jesus before Jesus by divine revelation.

Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, Upon whom I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations, Not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street. A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, Until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching. Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spreads out the earth with its crops, Who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk on it: I, the Lord, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness. I am the Lord, this is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. See, the earlier things have come to pass, new ones I now foretell; Before they spring into being, I announce them to you. Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the end of the earth: Let the sea and what fills it resound, the coastlands, and those who dwell in them. Let the steppe and its cities cry out, the villages where Kedar dwells; Let the inhabitants of Sela exult, and shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory to the Lord, and utter his praise in the coastlands. The Lord goes forth like a hero, like a warrior he stirs up his ardor; He shouts out his battle cry, against his enemies he shows his might: I have looked away, and kept silence, I have said nothing, holding myself in; But now, I cry out as a woman in labor, gasping and panting. I will lay waste mountains and hills, all their herbage I will dry up; I will turn the rivers into marshes, and the marshes I will dry up. I will lead the blind on their journey; by paths unknown I will guide them. I will turn darkness into light before them, and make crooked ways straight. These things I do for them, and I will not forsake them”” (Cf. Is 42,1-25).

The heart of Jesus is great. All the merciful, compassionate, and charitable heart of the Father, who does not want the death of the sinner, but that he gets converted and lives; lives in it. Jesus came to reveal to every man the greatness and the universality of God’s love. Nobody might and must feel to be excluded from this love. There is a place of honour in the heart of the Father for every one. Jesus gave everybody a place of honour in his heart.

But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him to put him to death. When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many (people) followed him, and he cured them all, but he warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “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.”

Jesus came to announce justice to the nations, that is, the perfect will of God. He is not the Messiah of a people, the Saviour of a nation, the Redeemer of a race. He is the Messiah of every people, every nation, every race, and every language. He is the Saviour of the world. His mediation of grace and truth is universal. Who lets himself be announced justice by Lord Jesus returns into his true humanity. Who refuses to welcome his light, and perseveres in the darkness of evil remains in his death. Jesus does not come to impose justice with force. He announces it with gentleness, respect, kindness, and compassion, by bending and taking upon himself all our infirmities. He gives hope to everyone. He inspires everyone with trust. His life is not a failure, even though it could look like it in appearance. He is that wise doctor who knows how to treat sicknesses, diseases, and every other spiritual and physical suffering. His is a true announcement of true salvation. The Gospel attests that never was a single man disappointed by Jesus. Even the greatest sinners who sought salvation, have obtained it. This is the great miracle of love that we all are called to show, today, tomorrow, and always. No miracle will ever be greater than this.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels, Saints teach us this miracle.