The Greatness and the Goodness

The words of the Prophet Isaiah in the texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today offer help for the poor and needy people of Israel from the consolation and care of the Divine present to them as they return to an intimate relationship with God as a physical return to Jerusalem after exile in Babylon and as a spiritual homecoming to a personal relationship guiding their individual journeys. The psalmist reflects on the greatness and goodness of the God known by Israel as graciousness, faithfulness and compassion. Matthew’s Gospel enlightens our understanding of the role of John the Baptist as the Elijah figure expected to precede the messiah awaited by the Jewish believers. This Gospel is written as a Jew to his fellow Jews and Jesus is presented as the Messiah, King of the Jews.