＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Isaiah 45:6c-8, 18, 21c-25

 so that, from the rising

To the setting of the sun, all may know that there is no one besides me; I am Yahweh, and there is no other.  I form the light and create the dark; I usher in prosperity and bring calamity. I, Yahweh, do all this. Let the heavens send righteousness like dew and the clouds rain it down.

Let the earth open and salvation blossom, so that justice also may sprout;  I, Yahweh, have created it.  Yes, this is what Yahweh says, he who created the heavens,

– for he is God, who formed and shaped the earth, – for he himself set it: “I did not let confusion in it, I wanted people to live there instead” – for I am Yahweh and there is no other.

God besides me, a Savior, a God of justice, there is no other one but me. Turn to me and be saved, all you from the ends of the earth, for I am God and there is no other. By my own self I swear it, and what comes from my mouth is tuth, a word I say will not be revoked. Before me evey knee will bend, by me every tongue will swear, saying,

“in Yahweh alone are righteousness and strength.” I who have raged a gainst him will come to him in shame. But through Yahweh there will be victory and glory to the people of Israel.

 

 

Ps 85:9ab & 10, 11-12, 13-14

Let the clouck rain down the just One, and the earth bring forth a savior.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Gospel Reflection：

John the Baptist was a bit confused when from his prison he heard of what Jesus was doing-associating with sinners! A disturbing doubt gnawed at his soul. He had to know if he had not erred in announcing the Messiah as the one who would punish the unrepentant!

Jesus, thus sends the emissaries of John with the Good News: the good news is proclaimed to the poor and the sick are healed, the blind and the lame are made well, and he dead are raised to life.

These are the acts associated with the Jubilee, the time of grace, the time of the Messiah as prophesied by Isaiah (seeIsaiah 61). The Messiah, yes, would condemn sin; but he would come to call sinners to repentance, not as a law enforcer but as a healer, a restorer to wholeness.

John had to understand that the Messiah would be counted amongst sinner so that he would save sinners by identifying with sinners and making atonement for sinners. the Messiah came not to judge but to save. (See John 3:16)