Saturday after the Nativity of Christ; the Holy Martyr Anysia (286-305); Holy Martyr and Presbyter, Zoticus, Protector of Orphans (4th c.)
1 Timothy 6:11-16; Matthew 12:15-21.
Read Matthew 12:15-21
Christ is born! Glorify Him!
Jesus was never afraid of open confrontation with the Pharisees and the scribes and, despite the fact that he ordered people cured by Him “not to make Him known,” Jesus never had anything to hide. Nevertheless, in today’s Gospel we see that our Savior, for the time being, deliberately decides to withdraw from the conflict and deliberately chooses to remain unknown. He did it for two reasons. First, He knew that the Time of the Cross had not come yet. Second, He did not want to provoke any political rebellion based on the false understanding of His Messiahship. In fact He needed some time, so He could teach his followers about the true Messiahship which was not about earthly authority but a self-giving sacrifice, not about sitting on the throne but about hanging on the cross. He was prepared for a battle. But it had to be not a murderous battle of the Jews against Romans, but a monumental battle of Good over Evil, when the brutality of sin will be once and for all defeated by the gentleness of love.
The prophecy of Issaiah 42:1-4 referred to Cyrus, the Persian king finds its fulfilment in Jesus Christ, the true King of the entire world. He was meant to become a Master who “will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.” Yet, He will accomplish this task of the Heavenly Father not as a powerful ruler, but as a “servant,” whom God “has chosen” because He is God’s “beloved,” with whom God’s soul “is well pleased” and upon whom God’s “Spirit will be put.” (Matt. 12:18).
Jesus’s kingship will not come as a result of “crying aloud,” “breaking a bruised reed,” or “quenching a smoldering wick.” Crying aloud (κραυγάσει in Greek) meant scaring someone with unexpected strong sounds similar to barking of the dog, the croaking of a raven or yelling of the resentful crowd. It was definitely contrary to Jesus’ approach which was never based on the clash of ideologies, but on the serenity of all-encompassing love. Jesus’ followers were far from perfection. At times, they were simply weak and unsteady. Yet, Jesus did not come to discourage, but to encourage, not to judge, but to save. That gives a great “hope” to all Gentiles and to all of us. We are all invited to Christ’s kingdom in which even being weak we will not be treated with contempt, but with understanding and compassionate love.