Teacher and Servant

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary resonate with the need in our society for some instruction in ways to free ourselves from violent and self serving acts. We are invited to meditate on the source and delivery of teaching messages which might provide some light in our darkness. The text from the Prophet Isaiah uses images of light of sun and moon as it delivers a prophetic message of a Teacher who we will know intimately on a face to face basis. Keith Kozak finds that the Teacher speaks with the voice of his Papa suggesting that the “busy life” may be interfering with the loving life. A cross reference guide to the role of teacher in the bible gives an overview of this theme in Isaiah, Jeremiah, the Psalms and the Christian Testament. The Gospel from Matthew today identifies Jesus personal distress about our state of being without a Shepherd. He commissions the Twelve to go in His Name with His authority to bring the Kingdom to others through acts of loving service. When we encounter the other face to face in service, two Teachers are inviting us to learn. Our commission to bring love and healing to the other meets the message in the voice of the other from Him which guides us through the darkness.