29th Sunday Ordinary Time - Year B

Pleased To Crush Him

 There is a section of four "Suffering" poems in the last part of the book of Isaiah. They describe a person whom God calls Servant who goes through some terrible ordeal, seemingly without any reason. In today's poem, God states the purpose of the torture--to "justify" or restore the people's relationship with God. The author seems to be describing either a stereotype of any righteous sufferer or the people of Israel taken as a whole.
The Church interprets these passages as prophecies about Jesus, the Servant of all.

Apostolic Ambition

Initially Jesus’ apostles may have joined him in the hope that he was a political revolutionary. They thought that he would launch a rebellion and set up a new kingdom in Israel. This helps us understand the un-saintly arrogance in their quarrel today. Jesus has specifically rejected any political motives. The apostles hear only what they want. They anticipate holding prominent offices in the new reign to come. We must remember that saints are first of all, human beings. They begin with the same ambitions and failings that we have, but rise above them.

Related: Resources on Sunday Readings - Clipart, homelies, articles, coloring pages, music: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

© 2000 by Father Richard Lonsdale. You may freely copy this document. It may be freely reproduced in any non-profit publication.Thie clipart and commentatires above were originally on a web site maintained by Fr. Lonsdale. To copy the clipart images, click with your right mouse button and use "save picture (or image) as…"To view a complete list of clipart images and commentaries: Lonsdale Commentaries and Clipart

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