Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Cycle C


1st Reading: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7

First Song of the Servant of the Lord
----------------------------------------------------
(Thus says the Lord,) [1] "Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in
whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him, he will bring forth jus-
tice to the nations. [2] He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the
street; [3] a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not
quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. [4] He will not fail or be discouraged
till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. 

[6] "I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the
hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the
nations, [7] to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the
dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness."

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Commentary:

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¹ø¿ªÀÚ ÁÖ: °¡Å縯 º¸Æí ±³È¸ÀÇ Àü·Ê·Â¿¡ ÀÖ¾î ³× °³ÀÇ "°íÅë¹Þ´Â Á¾ÀÇ ³ë·¡µé"Àº ´ÙÀ½°ú °°ÀÌ 
¹ßÃéµÇ°í ÀÖ´Ù:
(i) ù ¹ø° °íÅë¹Þ´Â Á¾ÀÇ ³ë·¡´Â ÀÌ»ç¾ß¼­ 42,1-4/9
    (¸Å³â ¼º ¿ù¿äÀÏ ¹× ¸Å³â ÁÖ´Ô ¼¼·Ê ÃàÀÏ Á¦1µ¶¼­¿¡ Æ÷ÇÔµÊ), 
(ii) µÎ ¹ø° °íÅë¹Þ´Â Á¾ÀÇ ³ë·¡´Â ÀÌ»ç¾ß¼­ 49,1-6
    (¸Å³â ¼º È­¿äÀÏ, °¡ÇØ ¿¬Áß Á¦2ÁÖÀÏ ¹× ¸Å³â ¼¼·ÊÀÚ ¿äÇÑ Åº»ý ´ëÃàÀÏ Á¦1µ¶¼­), 
(iii) ¼¼ ¹ø° °íÅë ¹ÞÀº Á¾ÀÇ ³ë·¡´Â ÀÌ»ç¾ß¼­ 50,4-9/11
    (¸Å³â ¼º ¼ö¿äÀÏ Á¦1µ¶¼­, ³ªÇØ ¿¬Áß Á¦24ÁÖÀÏ Á¦1µ¶¼­, ¸Å³â ÁÖ´Ô ¼ö³­ ¼ºÁö ÁÖÀÏ  
    Á¦1µ¶¼­¸¦ Æ÷ÇÔÇÔ), ±×¸®°í 
(iv) ³× ¹ø° °íÅë¹Þ´Â Á¾ÀÇ ³ë·¡´Â ÀÌ»ç¾ß¼­ 52,13-53,12 
    (¸Å³â ¼º ±Ý¿äÀÏ Á¦1µ¶¼­, ³ªÇØ Á¦29ÁÖÀÏ Á¦1µ¶¼­¸¦ Æ÷ÇÔÇÔ)¿¡ ÀÖ´Ù.
-----

42:1-9. The Lord, who revealed his power by creating the world (40:12-31) and
showed his determination to save mankind by his intervention in history (4l:1-29),
now announces a new stage in his plans (v. 9). To advance them he will give a
special mission to the "servant of the Lord"; in the prophetic text, this personage
plays the key role in making known and putting into effect the salvific plans of
God. Four passages over the course of chapters 42-55 speak of the servant and
his mission; these passages may originally have made up a poem of their own.
These oracles are usually called the "Songs of the Servant". Most biblical scho-
lars see 42:1-9 as being the first song or, rather, the first stanza of that poem.
The other three passages are: 49:1-6; 50:4-11; and 52:13-53:12. They combine
to make a very beautiful poem, but they raise difficult questions as to style and
content. They have been the subject of a great deal of commentary, and the
identity of the "servant" is still a matter of debate. Those who consider the four
passages to be parts of the one poem take it that the "servant" in each is one
and the same person and has one and the same mission. Scholars who do not
regard the four passages as originally part of a single poem interpret the person
and mission of the servant as being different in each.

42:1-9. ÀÌ ¼¼»óÀ» âÁ¶ÇϽÉÀ¸·Î½á ´ç½ÅÀÇ Èû(power)À» µå·¯³»¼Ì´ø(40, 12-31) ±×¸®°í 
¿ª»ç¿¡ÀÇ ´ç½ÅÀÇ °³ÀÔÀ¸·Î½á Àηù¸¦ ±¸ÇϽ÷Á´Â ´ç½ÅÀÇ °á½ÉÀ» ³ªÅ¸³»¼Ì´ø, ÁÖ´Ô²²¼­´Â 

(41,1-29) ÀÌÁ¦ ´ç½Å °èȹµé¿¡ ÀÖ¾î »õ·Î¿î ´Ü°è¸¦ ¼±Æ÷ÇϽʴϴÙ(Á¦9Àý). À̵éÀ» 
Áøô½ÃÅ°½Ã°íÀÚ(advance) ´ç½Å²²¼­´Â "ÁÖ´ÔÀÇ Á¾"¿¡°Ô Ưº°ÇÑ ÀÓ¹«¸¦ ÁÖ½Ç °ÍÀ̸ç, 
±×¸®°í ¿¹¾ðÀû º»¹®¿¡¼­, ¹Ù·Î ÀÌ Àι°(personage)Àº ÇÏ´À´ÔÀÇ ±¸Á¦(Ï­ð­)¸¦ º£Çª½Ã´Â
(salvific plans) °èȹµéÀ» ¾Ë·ÁÁö°Ô ÇÏ°í ±×¸®°í ½ÇÇàÇÏ´Â µ¥¿¡ ÀÖ¾î ÇØ°áÀÇ ¿­¼è°¡ µÇ´Â 
¿ªÇÒ(the key role)À» ÇÕ´Ï´Ù.
Á¦42-55 ÀåµéÀÇ °úÁ¤¿¡ °ÉÃÄ ³× °³ÀÇ ´Ü¶ô(passages)µéÀº 
ÀÌ Á¾°ú ±×ÀÇ ÀÓ¹«¿¡ ´ëÇÏ¿© ¸»Çϸç, ±×¸®°í ÀÌµé ´Ü¶ôµéÀº ±×µé °íÀ¯ÀÇ ÇÑ ÆíÀÇ ½Ã¸¦ 
¾ÖÃÊ¿¡ ±¸¼ºÇÏ¿´À» °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ÀÌ·¯ÇÑ ½ÅŹµéÀº
"(°íÅë¹Þ´Â) Á¾ÀÇ ³ë·¡µé(Songs of the 
Servant)"
·Î ºÒ¸®¸ç, ´ë´Ù¼öÀÇ ¼º°æ ÇÐÀÚµéÀº 42,1-9¸¦ ù ¹ø° ³ë·¡, ȤÀº, ¿ÀÈ÷·Á, ¹Ù·Î 
±× ½ÃÀÇ Ã¹ ¹ø° ¿¬(æá)(stanza)À¸·Î ÀÌÇØÇÕ´Ï´Ù. ´Ù¸¥ ¼¼ °³ÀÇ ´Ü¶ôµéÀº ´ÙÀ½°ú °°½À´Ï´Ù:
 
49,1-6; 50,4-11; ±×¸®°í 52,13-53,12. ±×µéÀº °áÇÕÇÏ¿©(combine) ÇÑ ÆíÀÇ ¸Å¿ì ¾Æ¸§´Ù¿î 
½Ã¸¦ ±¸¼ºÇÏÁö¸¸, ±×·¯³ª ±×µéÀº ¾ç½Ä°ú ³»¿ë¿¡ ÀÖ¾î ¾î·Á¿î Áú¹®µéÀ» Á¦±âÇÕ´Ï´Ù. ±×µéÀº 
Ä¿´Ù¶õ ¾çÀÇ ÁÖ¼®ÀÇ ÁÖÁ¦°¡ µÇ¾î¿ÔÀ¸¸ç, ±×¸®°í ÀÌ "Á¾"ÀÇ ½Å¿ø(identity)Àº ¿©ÀüÈ÷ 
Åä·ÐÀÇ ÁÖÁ¦(a matter of debate) ÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ÀÌ ³× °³ÀÇ ´Ü¶ôµéÀÌ ÇÑ ÆíÀÇ ½ÃÀÇ ºÎºÐµéÀ̶ó°í 
°£ÁÖÇÏ´Â À̵éÀº °¢°¢¿¡ ÀÖ¾î ÀÌ "Á¾"Àº ÇÑ ¸íÀÌ°í µ¿ÀÏÇÑ ÀΰÝ(person)ÀÌ¸ç ±×¸®°í 
ÇϳªÀÇ ±×¸®°í ²À °°Àº ÀÓ¹«¸¦ °¡Á³´Ù°í ¹Þ¾ÆµéÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ÀÌ ³× °³ÀÇ ´Ü¶ôµéÀÌ ¾ÖÃÊ¿¡ 
´ÜÀÏÇÑ ½ÃÀÇ ºÎºÐÀ¸·Î °£ÁÖÇÏÁö ¾Ê´Â ÇÐÀÚµéÀº °¢°¢¿¡ ÀÖ¾î ÀÌ Á¾ÀÇ Àΰݰú ÀÓ¹«¸¦ 
´Ù¸¥ °ÍÀ¸·Î Çؼ®ÇÕ´Ï´Ù.


There are basically three theories as to who the servant is. One theory is that he
is a particular individual--a king of the house of Judah, or the prophet himself or,
of course, a future Messiah, who will redeem Israel. The second theory is that the
servant is a collectivity he stands for Israel, or for some group within Israel. The
third theory argues that the servant is meant to be depicted ambiguously--that is
in a way that allows him to be interpreted in both of the ways mentioned previous-
ly --as a person of significance but someone who can symbolize all Israel.

ÀÌ Á¾ÀÌ ´©±¸Àΰ¡¿¡ ´ëÇÏ¿© ±âº»ÀûÀ¸·Î ¼¼ °³ÀÇ Çм³(theories)µéÀÌ ÀÖ½À´Ï´Ù. ÇÑ Çм³Àº 
±×°¡, À¯´Ù Áý¾ÈÀÇ ¿Õ, ȤÀº ¿¹¾ðÀÚ ÀڽŠȤÀº, ´ç¿¬È÷, À̽º¶ó¿¤À» ¼Ó·®ÇÒ ¹Ì·¡ÀÇ ¸Þ½Ã¾Æ 
µîÀÇ, ƯÁ¤ÇÑ °³ÀÎÀ̶ó´Â °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. µÎ ¹ø° Çм³Àº ÀÌ Á¾ÀÌ ±×°¡ À̽º¶ó¿¤ ȤÀº À̽º¶ó¿¤ 
³»ºÎÀÇ ¾î¶² Áý´ÜÀ» ³ªÅ¸³»´Â ÇϳªÀÇ Áý´Ü(a collectivity)¶ó´Â °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ¼¼ ¹ø° Çм³Àº, 
±×°¡ ÀÌÀü¿¡ ¾ð±ÞÇÏ¿´´ø ¹æ½Äµé µÑ ´Ù·Î Çؼ®µÇ´Â °ÍÀ» Çã¶ôÇÏ´Â ¹æ½ÄÀ¸·Î, ÇÑ ¸íÀÇ Áß¿ä 
ÀΰÝÀ¸·Î¼­ ±×·¯³ª ¸ðµç À̽º¶ó¿¤À» »ó¡ÇÒ ¼ö ÀÖ´Â ¾î¶² À̷μ­, ÀÌ Á¾Àº ¾Ö¸Å¸ðÈ£ÇÏ°Ô 
¹¦»çµÇ±â·Î ÀǵµµÇ¾î ÀÖ´Ù°í(is meant to be) ÁÖÀåÇÕ´Ï´Ù.

In this first song (vv 1-9) the servant certainly comes across as a figure of mystery:
v. 1 gives him very special universal transcendental attributes, Verses 2-3a show
his humility but they are followed immediately by verses saying that he is some-
one able to "establish justice in the earth", to be "a light to the nations" someone
who can "bring light to the nations" and "open the eyes that are blind arid set cap-
tives free...". The "servant" can do all this because the Lord has "put his Spirit on
him" (cf. v. 1), that is, he is someone chosen by God and he has the help of the
Spirit of the Lord to carry out his mission to teach his Law to the very ends of the
earth. So, these words could be describing the prophet's own conviction that he
has a mission to perform--to proclaim the word of God; a mission that he did not
seek but, rather, had given to him. But the servant could also stand for the whole
people of Israel (cf. 41:8)--for in the same way were the people chosen by God
to bear witness to him before all mankind concerning the Law they had received
from the Lord.

ÀÌ Ã¹ ¹ø° ³ë·¡¿¡¼­(Á¦1-9Àý) ÀÌ Á¾Àº ´ÙÀ½°ú °°ÀÌ È®½ÇÈ÷ ½ÅºñÀÇ Àι°·Î¼­ ÀÌÇص˴ϴÙ: 
Á¦1ÀýÀº ¸Å¿ì Ưº°ÇÑ º¸ÆíÀû ÃÊ¿ùÀû ¼Ó¼ºÀ» ±×¿¡°Ô ºÎ¿©Çϸç(gives), Á¦2-3¤¡ ÀýµéÀº 
±×ÀÇ °â¼ÕÀ» ³ªÅ¸³»³ª ±×·¯³ª ±×µéÀº ±×°¡ "¼¼»ó¿¡ Á¤ÀǸ¦ ¼¼¿ï" ¼ö ÀÖ´Â, "¹ÎÁ·µéÀÇ ºûÀÌ 
µÉ" ¼ö ÀÖ´Â ¾î¶² ÀÚ, "¹ÎÁ·µé¿¡°Ô ºûÀ» °¡Á®´Ù ÁÙ" ¼ö ÀÖ´Â ±×¸®°í "º¸Áö ¸øÇÏ´Â ´«À» ¶ß°Ô 
ÇÏ´Â ±×¸®°í °¤Èù À̵éÀ» ... Ç®¾îÁÙ" ¼ö ÀÖ´Â ¾î¶² ÀÚÀÓÀ» ¸»ÇÏ´Â Àýµé¿¡ ÀÇÇÏ¿© °ð¹Ù·Î 
À̾îÁý´Ï´Ù. ÀÌ "Á¾"Àº ÀÌ ¸ðµÎ¸¦ ÇÒ ¼ö Àִµ¥ ÀÌ´Â ÁÖ´Ô²²¼­ ±×¿¡°Ô ´ç½ÅÀÇ ¿µÀ» Áּ̱â"
(Á¦1ÀýÀ» ÂüÁ¶Ç϶ó) ¶§¹®ÀÔ´Ï´Ù, Áï ±×´Â ÇÏ´À´Ô¿¡ ÀÇÇÏ¿© ¼±ÅÃµÈ ¾î¶² ÀÚÀÌ¸ç ±×¸®°í 
±×´Â ¼¼»óÀÇ ¹Ù·Î ³¡¿¡±îÁö ´ç½ÅÀÇ °Å·èÇÑ ¹ýÀ» °¡¸£Ä¡´Â ÀÚ½ÅÀÇ ÀÓ¹«¸¦ ¼öÇàÇϱâ À§ÇÏ¿© 
ÁÖ´ÔÀÇ ¿µÀÇ µµ¿òÀ» ¹Þ´Â ÀÚÀ̱⠶§¹®ÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ±×·¡¼­, À̵é Ç¥ÇöµéÀº, ±×°¡ ¼öÇàÇÏ¿©¾ß ÇÒ 
ÀÓ¹«¸¦, ÇÏ´À´ÔÀÇ ¸»¾¸À» ¼±Æ÷ÇÒ ÀÓ¹«¸¦,±×¸®°í ±×°¡ Ãß±¸ÇÏÁö´Â ¾Ê¾ÒÀ¸³ª ±×·¯³ª, ¿ÀÈ÷·Á, 
±×¿¡°Ô ÀÌ¹Ì ÁÖ¾îÁ³´ø, ¾î¶² ÀÓ¹«¸¦  °¡Áö°í ÀÖ´Ù´Â, ÀÌ ¿¹¾ðÀÚ °íÀ¯ÀÇ ½Å³ä(conviction)À» 
¹¦»çÇÏ°í ÀÖÀ» ¼öµµ ÀÖ½À´Ï´Ù.  ±×·¯³ª ÀÌ Á¾Àº Àüü À̽º¶ó¿¤ ¹é¼ºÀ» ¶ÇÇÑ ´ëÇ¥ÇÒ ¼ö 
ÀÖÀ¸¸ç
(41,8À» ÂüÁ¶Ç϶ó), ²À °°Àº ¹æ½ÄÀ¸·Î, ±×µéÀÌ ÁÖ´ÔÀ¸·ÎºÎÅÍ ÀÌ¹Ì ¹Þ¾Ò´ø °Å·èÇÑ ¹ý
(the Law)¿¡ °üÇÏ¿© ¸ðµç Àηù ¾Õ¿¡¼­ ´ç½ÅÀ» Áõ°ÅÇϱâ À§ÇÏ¿©, ÇÏ´À´Ô¿¡ ÀÇÇÏ¿© ¼±ÅõȠ
¹é¼ºÀ» ³ªÅ¸³¾ ¼öµµ ÀÖ½À´Ï´Ù.  


The Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles without attempting to discover exact-
ly who this servant was originally (or whom he was meant to stand for) interpre-
ted the main features of the servant as being a prophecy about Jesus, in whom
the Father is most pleased, and who, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, is truly the
light for all nations and the liberation of all the oppressed. For example, in the
accounts of the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan and of the Transfiguration, the
voice of the Father refers to those features: This is my beloved Son with whom
I am well pleased (Mt 3:17); "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" (Lk
9:35). The Gospel of Matthew, which makes a point of showing that the Scrip-
tures find fulfillment in Jesus, explicitly quotes vv. 2-4 of this oracle of Isaiah to
show that in Jesus is fulfilled the prophecy of the servant, who was rejected by
the leaders of the people and whose quiet and kindly teaching would bring the
light of truth to the world (Mt 12:15-21). And later in his Gospel, when St Mat-
thew recounts the passion and death of our Lord (cf. Mt 27:30), he again makes
the link between Christ and the servant.

½Å¾à ¼º°æÀÇ º¹À½¼­µé°ú »çµµÇàÀüÀº ÀÌ Á¾ÀÌ ¾ÖÃÊ¿¡ ´©±¸¿´´ÂÁö (ȤÀº ±×°¡ ´©±¸¸¦ 
´ëÇ¥Çϱâ·Î ÀǵµµÈ °ÍÀÎÁö)¸¦ Á¤È®ÇÏ°Ô Ã£¾Æ³»·Á´Â ½Ãµµ ¾øÀÌ ÀÌ Á¾ÀÇ ÁÖµÈ Æ¯Â¡µéÀ», 
±× ¾È¿¡¼­ ¼ººÎ²²¼­ °¡Àå ±â»µÇÏ°Ô µÇ¼ÌÀ¸¸ç, ±×¸®°í, ¼º·É°úÀÇ ÀÏÄ¡ ¾È¿¡¼­, Áø½Ç·Î 
¸ðµç ¹ÎÁ·µéÀÇ ºûÀÌ¸ç ¾ï¾Ð ¹Þ´Â ÀÚµé ¸ðµÎÀÇ ÇعæÀÎ, ¿¹¼ö´Ô¿¡ ´ëÇÑ ÇÑ °³ÀÇ ¿¹¾ðÀ¸·Î 
Çؼ®ÇÏ¿´½À´Ï´Ù. ¿¹¸¦ µé¾î, ¿ä¸£´Ü¿¡¼­ ¿¹¼ö´ÔÀÇ ¼¼·Ê¿¡ ´ëÇÑ ±×¸®°í ÁÖ´Ô °Å·èÇÑ 
º¯¸ð(Transfiguration)¿¡ ´ëÇÑ À̾߱âµé¿¡¼­ ¼ººÎÀÇ À½¼ºÀº ÀÌ·¯ÇÑ Æ¯¼ºµé¿¡ ´ëÇÏ¿© 
´ÙÀ½°ú °°ÀÌ ¾ð±ÞÇÕ´Ï´Ù:
"ÀÌ´Â ³»°¡ »ç¶ûÇÏ´Â ¾Æµé, ³» ¸¶À½¿¡ µå´Â ¾ÆµéÀÌ´Ù" 
(¸¶Å¿À º¹À½¼­ 3,17): "ÀÌ´Â ³»°¡ ¼±ÅÃÇÑ ¾ÆµéÀÌ´Ï ³ÊÈñ´Â ±×ÀÇ ¸»À» µé¾î¶ó" 
(·çÄ« º¹À½¼­ 9,35).
¼º°æÀÌ ¿¹¼ö´Ô ¾È¿¡¼­ ±¸¿øÀ» ¹ß°ßÇÑ´Ù°í ÁÖÀåÇÏ´Â, ¸¶Å¿À 
º¹À½¼­
´Â, À̽º¶ó¿¤ ¹é¼ºÀÇ ÁöµµÀڵ鿡 ÀÇÇÏ¿© °ÅºÎµÇ¾úÀ¸¸ç ±×¸®°í ´ç½ÅÀÇ 
Á¶¿ëÇÏ°í Ä£ÀýÇÑ °¡¸£Ä§ÀÌ ÀÌ ¼¼»ó¿¡ Áø¸®ÀÇ ºûÀ» °¡Á®´Ù ÁÙ
(¸¶Å¿À º¹À½¼­ 12,15-21), 
¿¹¼ö´Ô ¾È¿¡¼­ ÀÌ Á¾¿¡ ´ëÇÑ ¿¹¾ðÀÌ ±¸ÇöµÇ°í ÀÖÀ½À» º¸À̱â À§ÇÏ¿©,
ÀÌ»ç¾ß¿¡ ÀÇÇÑ 
ÀÌ ½ÅŹÀÇ
Á¦2-4ÀýÀ» ¸í¹éÇÏ°Ô ÀοëÇÕ´Ï´Ù. ±×¸®°í ³ªÁß¿¡ ÀÚ½ÅÀÇ º¹À½¼­¿¡¼­, ¼º 
¸¶Å¿À°¡ ¿ì¸®ÀÇ ÁÖ´ÔÀÇ ¼ö³­°ú Á×À½À» ¼­¼úÇÒ ¶§¿¡
(¸¶Å¿À º¹À½¼­ 27,30À» ÂüÁ¶Ç϶ó), 
±×´Â ¶Ç´Ù½Ã ±×¸®½ºµµ¿Í ÀÌ Á¾ »çÀÌ¿¡ ¿¬°áÀ» ¸¸µì´Ï´Ù. 


The expression "light to the nations" (v. 6) seems to find an echo in what Jesus
says about his being the light of the world (Jn 8:12; 9:5) and also in the "Bene-
dictus" of Zechariah (Lk 1:78-79). There is an evocation of v. 7 in Jesus' reply to
the messengers from John the Baptist who ask him whether he is he who is to
come (cf. Mt 11:4-6: Lk 7:18-22); cf. the note on 29:15-24. And so St Justin will
say, commenting on vv. 6-7: "Everything that is said here, my friends, refers to
Christ and to the peoples who have been enlightened by his presence" (Dialo-
gus Cum Tryphone", 122,2).

"¹ÎÁ·µéÀÇ ºû"(Á¦6Àý)À̶ó´Â Ç¥ÇöÀº ¿¹¼ö´Ô²²¼­ ´ç½Å²²¼­ ÀÌ ¼¼»óÀÇ ºûÀ̽É
(¿äÇÑ º¹À½¼­ 8,12; 9,5)¿¡ ´ëÇÏ¿© ¿¹¼ö´Ô²²¼­ ¸»¾¸ÇϽŠ¹Ù¿¡¼­±×¸®°í ¶ÇÇÑ ¿¹¾ðÀÚ 
ÁîÄ«¸£¾ß(Zechariah)ÀÇ "Ãູ(Benediction)"(·çÄ« º¹À½¼­ 1,78-79)¿¡¼­ ¹ÝÇâ
(an echo)À» ¹ß°ßÇÏ´Â °Í °°½À´Ï´Ù. ´ç½Å²²¼­ ¿À½Ã±â·Î µÇ¾î ÀÖ´Â ºÐÀ̽ÅÁö¸¦ 
´ç½Å²² ¿©ÂÞ´Â ¼¼·ÊÀÚ ¿äÇÑÀÇ Àü´ÞÀڵ鿡 ´ëÇÑ ¿¹¼ö´ÔÀÇ ´äº¯ ¹Ù·Î °Å±â¿¡ Á¦7ÀýÀÇ 
ºÒ·¯³¿(evocation)ÀÌ ÀÖÀ¸¸ç
(¸¶Å¿À º¹À½¼­ 11,4-6; ·çÄ« º¹À½¼­ 7,18-22À» 
ÂüÁ¶Ç϶ó), ±×¸®°í ÀÌ»ç¾ß¼­ 29, 15-24¿¡ ´ëÇÑ ÁÖ¼®À» ÂüÁ¶Ç϶ó. ±×¸®°í ¼º À¯½ºÆ¼³ë
(St. Justine)´Â, Á¦6-7Àý¿¡ ´ëÇÏ¿© ÁÖ¼®Çϸ鼭, ´ÙÀ½°ú °°ÀÌ ±×·¸°Ô ¸»ÇÒ °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù: 
"³ªÀÇ Ä£±¸µéÀÌ¿©, ¿©±â¼­ ¸»ÇØÁö°í ÀÖ´Â ¸ðµç °ÍÀº ±×¸®½ºµµ¿¡ ´ëÇÑ ±×¸®°í ´ç½ÅÀÇ 
ÇöÁ¸¿¡ ÀÇÇÏ¿© ÀÌ¹Ì ±³È­µÈ(have been enlightened) »ç¶÷µé¿¡ ´ëÇÑ ¾ð±ÞÀÔ´Ï´Ù" 
[Dialo gus Cum Tryphone", 122,2].


The Church in the Second Vatican Council acknowledges her duty to strive to
use every opportunity to show that Christ is truly the "light of the nations" (v. 6):
"Christ is the Light of nations. Because this is so, this Sacred Synod gathered
together in the Holy Spirit eagerly desires by proclaiming the Gospel to every
creature, to bring the light of Christ to all men a light brightly visible on the
countenance of the Church ("Lumen Gentium", 1).

±³È¸´Â Á¦2Â÷ ¹ÙƼĭ °øÀÇȸ¿¡¼­ ±×¸®½ºµµ²²¼­ Áø½Ç·Î "¹ÎÁ·µéÀÇ ºû"(Á¦6Àý)À̽ÉÀ» 
º¸À̱â À§ÇÏ¿© ¸ðµç ±âȸ¸¦ »ç¿ëÇÏ°íÀÚ ³ë·ÂÇÏ¿©¾ß ÇÏ´Â ÀÚ½ÅÀÇ ÀÓ¹«¸¦ ´ÙÀ½°ú °°ÀÌ 
ÀÎÁ¤ÇÕ´Ï´Ù(acknowledges):
"±×¸®½ºµµ²²¼­´Â ¹ÎÁ·µéÀÇ ºûÀ̽ʴϴÙ. ¿Ö³ÄÇϸé 
ÀÌ°ÍÀÌ Á¤¸»·Î ±×·¯Çϱ⿡, ¼º·É ¾È¿¡¼­ ÇÔ²² ¸ðÀÎ ÀÌ °Å·èÇÑ °øÀÇȸ(Sacred Synod)´Â 
ÀÌ º¹À½À» ¸ðµç ÇÇÁ¶¹°¿¡°Ô ¼±Æ÷ÇÔÀ¸·Î½á, ±×¸®½ºµµÀÇ ºûÀ»,  ±³È¸ÀÇ ¾ó±¼(counteance)
¿¡¼­ ȯÇÏ°Ô º¸ÀÌ´Â ºûÀ»,  ¸ðµç »ç¶÷µé¿¡°Ô °¡Á®´Ù Áֱ⸦ °£ÀýÈ÷ ¹Ù¶ø´Ï´Ù.
[Á¦2Â÷ ¹ÙƼĭ °øÀÇȸ, "ÀηùÀÇ ºû(Lumen Gentium)", 1].




Alternate 1st Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11

Prologue: Promise of Deliverance
------------------------------------------------
[1] Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. [2] Speak tenderly to Jerusa-
lem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that
she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. [3] A voice cries:
"In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a
highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill
be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a
plain. [5] And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it
together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

[9] Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your
voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, fear not; say
to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!" [10] Behold, the Lord God comes with
might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recom-
pense before him. [11] He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the
lambs in his arms, he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that
are with young.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

40:1-55:13. These chapters make up the second part of the book of Isaiah, also
known as "Second Isaiah" or "Deutero-Isaiah". Almost everything here refers to
a period of history one or two centuries later than that of "First Isaiah". The op-
pressor is no longer Assyria but Babylon, which conquered Jerusalem in 587-
586 BC, and then began a series of deportations that sent the upper classes
of Jerusalem and Judah into exile. Many years later (539 BC), Cyrus, king of
the Persians, conquered the Babylonians and issued a decree allowing those
deportees who so wished to return home. These events are echoed in Second
Isaiah's oracles, songs, lamentations and denunciations,and the prophetic
visions of the final, enduring deliverance and restoration of the chosen people
and the city of Zion.

The various literary units in this part of the book are grouped into two Is 52:7-11
sections more or less by subject. The first (40:1-48:22) implies that the Jews are
still held against their will in Babylon. Their deliverance is announced, thanks to
the power of the Lord, who rules the world and determines the course of human
affairs; he has chosen Cyrus, king of Persia, called here his "anointed", his
messiah, to redeem Israel from exile (44:24-45:25).

This section, too, contains the announcement that God will choose a "servant",
whom he will send empowered by the Spirit to establish law and justice (42:1-9,
the first "song of the Servant").

The second section celebrates the glorious restoration of the people of God on
Zion; in this, too, the "Servant of the Lord" will play the key role; the section con-
tains the last three "songs of the Servant" (49: 1-6; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12).

40:1-48:22. The historical background to these chapters is the time immediately
after the return of the exiles from Babylon, which is depicted as a "new exodus".
The exodus from Egypt was the prototype of all God's interventions on his peo-
ple's behalf: now we hear of another one, "new" because the power with which
God, the Creator of all things, acts now surpasses that to be seen in the exodus.
The news that deliverance is at hand greatly consoles the people: we are told
this at the start, and it is repeated in the oracles that follow. For this reason,
this part of the book of Isaiah is usually called the "Book of Consolation", and it
has been interpreted as an anticipation of the consolation that Christ will bring:
"The true consolation, balm and release from all human ills is the Incarnation of
our God and Saviour" (Theodoret of Cyrus, "Commentaria In Isaiam", 40, 3).

The section opens with a song of joy over the imminent release of the exiles
(40: 1-11). After this a number of oracles are grouped together which describe
the reason why the people should hope in the Lord who is mighty and desires
to save, who is ready to do so (42:1-25), to manifest himself as the Redeemer
of Israel (43:1-44:23) and bring salvation to Jerusalem (44:24-48:19). The section
ends with a prophecy of the redemption of his people and a call to leave Babylon
(48:20-22).

40:1-11. The section begins on a formal note with an anonymous voice proclai-
ming the Lord's consolation (vv 1-5) The same voice calls on the prophet himself
to proclaim that the word of God and his message of salvation will endure forever
(vv. 6-11). The oracles are addressed to those people of Jerusalem who have been
deported to Babylon. When they were first spoken, many decades had passed
since these people and the previous generation were forced to leave the holy city.
Those years of suffering and exile have more than atoned for their sins. The time
comes for them, with the Lord's help, to set out on the return journey. That jour-
ney is mentioned throughout this section. The voice speaking in the name of the
Lord boosts their morale: it won't be a difficult journey; they will find a way opened
up for them which will bring them to the glory of the Lord. As in the exodus from
Egypt, on the "way" from Babylon to Jerusalem they will see wonderful evidence
of the power of God. The words spoken by the mysterious voice, inviting them to
set out, fills the returnees with hope.

The four Gospels see these words fulfilled in the ministry of John the Baptist,
who is the voice crying in the wilderness "Prepare the way of the Lord" (cf. v. 3).
And, indeed, John, with his call to personal conversion and his baptism of repen-
tance, does prepare the way for people to find Jesus (cf. Mt 3:3; Mk 1:3; Lk 3:4;
Jn 1:23), whom the Gospels confess to be "the Lord" (cf. v. 3). John the Baptist
is his herald, the "precursor": "The voice commands that a way be opened for
the Word of God, the path smoothed and all obstacles removed: when our God
comes, he will be able to walk without hindrance. Prepare the way of the Lord:
this means to preach the gospel and to offer consolation to his people, with the
desire that the salvation of God embrace all mankind" (Eusebius of Caesarea,
"Commentana In Isaiam", 40, 366). Hence, in Christian tradition, "John the Bap-
tist is 'more than a prophet' (Lk 7:26). In him, the Holy Spirit concludes his
speaking through the prophets. John completes the cycle of prophets begun by
Elijah (cf. Mt 11:13-14). He proclaims the imminence of the consolation of Israel;
he is the 'voice' of the Consoler who is coming (Jn 1:23; cf. Is 40:1-3)" ("Cate-
chism of the Catholic Church", 719).

In the second part of the oracle, the anonymous voice asks the prophet to speak 
in the name of the Lord (vv. 6-8). Merely human plans can only go so far; but the
word of God stands forever In the things that the voice says there must be an al-
lusion to the might of Babylon, which withers like the "flower of the field" when
the "breath of the Lord blows upon it", because it challenged the goodness of
God. The message to be given to the people speaks of trusting in the power of
God, who comes not to lay waste but to protect and recompense those in his
care (vv. 9-11). Here we find for the first time the simile of the "flock" being ap-
plied to the people of God, one of a number of figures of speech used in Holy
Scripture to describe God's tender care of his people (cf. Jer 23:3; Ezek 34:1ff;
Ps 23:4) and which Christian tradition uses to explain the mystery of the Church:
"The Church is a sheepfold whose one and indispensable door is Christ (Jn 10:
1-10). It is a flock of which God himself foretold he would be the shepherd (Is 40:
11; Ezek 34:11-31), and whose sheep, although ruled by human shepherds, are
nevertheless continuously led and nourished by Christ himself, the Good Shep-
herd and the Prince of the shepherds (cf. Jn 10:11; 1 Pet 5:4), who gave his life
for the sheep (cf. Jn 10:11-15)" (Vatican II, "Lumen Gentium", 6). The words of
vv. 6-8 will later be used in the First Letter of St Peter to confirm the validity of
the precept of brotherly love (1 Pet 1:24-25).

2nd Reading: Acts 10:34-38

Peter's Address
------------------------
[34] And Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I perceive that God shows no
partiality, [35] but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right
is acceptable to him. [36] You know the word which he sent to Israel, preaching
good news of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), [37] the word which was
proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which
John preached: [38] how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit
and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were op-
pressed by the devil, for God was with him.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

34-43. Peter's short address is his first to non-Jews. It begins with the central
idea that God is impartial: he wants all men to be saved through the proclama-
tion of the Gospel (vv. 34-36). This is followed by a summary of Jesus' public
life (vv. 37-41) and, finally, the statement (the first time it appears in Acts) that
Jesus Christ has been made Judge of the living and the dead (v. 42). As in all
Christian preaching to Gentiles, proofs from Scripture take a secondary place
(v. 43).

34-43. º£µå·ÎÀÇ ÂªÀº ¿¬¼³Àº ºñÀ¯´ÙÀεéÀ» ÇâÇÑ ±×ÀÇ Ã¹ ¹ø° ¿¬¼³ÀÔ´Ï´Ù. 
ÀÌ ¿¬¼³Àº ÇÏ´À´Ô²²¼­´Â ´ÙÀ½°ú °°ÀÌ »ç¶÷À» Â÷º°ÇÏÁö ¾ÊÀ¸½Å´Ù´Â ÇÙ½ÉÀû »ý°¢°ú 
ÇÔ²² ½ÃÀÛÇÕ´Ï´Ù: ´ç½Å²²¼­´Â º¹À½ÀÇ ¼±Æ÷¸¦ ÅëÇÏ¿© ¸ðµç »ç¶÷µéÀÌ ±¸ÇÏ¿©Áö±â¸¦ 
¿øÇϽʴϴÙ
(Á¦34-36Àý). ÀÌ°ÍÀº ¿¹¼ö´ÔÀÇ °ø»ýÈ°¿¡ ´ëÇÑ ¿ä¾à(Á¦37-41Àý)°ú 
±×¸®°í, ³¡À¸·Î, ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµ²²¼­´Â »ê À̵é°ú Á×Àº À̵éÀÇ ½ÉÆÇ°üÀ¸·Î À̹̠
ÀÓ¸íµÇ¼Ì´Ù
(Á¦42Àý)´Â (óÀ½À¸·Î »çµµÇàÀü¿¡ ³ªÅ¸³ª´Â) ¹®ÀåÀ¸·Î À̾îÁý´Ï´Ù. 
À̹æÀε鿡 ´ëÇÑ ±×¸®½ºµµ±³ÀÇ ¼³±³ ¸ðµÎ¿¡ À־ ±×·¯ÇϵíÀÌ, ¼º°æÀ¸·ÎºÎÅÍÀÇ 
Áõ°ÅµéÀº µÎ ¹ø° ÀÚ¸®¸¦ Â÷ÁöÇÕ´Ï´Ù
(Á¦43Àý).


34. This verse refers to 1 Samuel 16:7, where the Lord, in connection with the
anointing of David as king of Israel, tells the prophet, "Do not look on his appea-
rance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord
sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord
looks on the heart." When God calls and offers salvation to his elect, he does
not judge as men do. With him distinctions regarding social class, race, sex
or education do not count.

34. ÀÌ ÀýÀº 1»ç¹«¿¤ 16,7¿¡ ´ëÇÏ¿© ¾ð±ÞÇÏ°í Àִµ¥, °Å±â¼­ ÁÖ´Ô²²¼­´Â, ´ÙÀ­
(David)À» À̽º¶ó¿¤ÀÇ ¿ÕÀ¸·Î ±â¸§ºÎÀ½°ú ¿¬°áÇÏ¿© ÀÌ ¿¹¾ðÀÚ¿¡°Ô,
"°Ñ¸ð½ÀÀ̳ª 
Å° Å« °Í¸¸ º¸¾Æ¼­´Â ¾È µÈ´Ù. ³ª´Â ÀÌ¹Ì ±×¸¦ ¹èôÇÏ¿´´Ù. ³ª´Â »ç¶÷µéó·³ º¸Áö 
¾Ê´Â´Ù. »ç¶÷µéÀº ´«¿¡ µé¾î¿À´Â ´ë·Î º¸Áö¸¸ ÁÖ´ÔÀº ½ÊÀå(heart)À» º»´Ù" ¶ó°í 
¸»¾¸ÇϽʴϴÙ.
 ÇÏ´À´Ô²²¼­ ´ç½Å¿¡ ÀÇÇÏ¿© ¼±ÅÃµÈ À̵éÀ» ºÎ¸£½Ã°í ±×¸®°í ±×µé¿¡°Ô 
±¸¿øÀ» Á¦½ÃÇϽǠ¶§¿¡, ´ç½Å²²¼­´Â »ç¶÷µéÀÌ ÇàÇÑ µ¥¿¡ µû¶ó ÆÇ´ÜÇϽÃÁö ¾ÊÀ¸½Ê´Ï´Ù. 
´ç½Å²² À־çȸÀû °è±Þ, ÀÎÁ¾, ¼º, ȤÀº ±³À°¿¡ °üÇÑ Â÷ÀÌÁ¡µéÀº Çì¾Æ·ÁÁöÁö 
¾Ê½À´Ï´Ù.


Here St Peter proclaims that the Old Testament prophecies about the Jews
and the Gentiles forming one single nation (Is 2:2-4; Joel 2:28; Amos 9:12;
Mich 4:1 ) and Jesus' words calling everyone to enter his Kingdom (cf. Mt 8:11;
Mk 16:15-16; Jn 10:16) should be interpreted literally.

¿©±â¼­ ¼º º£µå·Î(St. Peter)´Â À¯´ÙÀεé°ú À̹æÀεéÀÌ ÇÑ °³ÀÇ ´ÜÀÏÇÑ ¹ÎÁ·À» 
±¸¼ºÇÒ °ÍÀÓ¿¡ °üÇÑ ±¸¾à ¼º°æÀÇ ¿¹¾ðµé
(ÀÌ»ç¾ß 2,2-4; ¿ä¿¤ 2,28; ¾Æ¸ð½º 9,12; 
¹ÌÄ« 4,1) ±×¸®°í ¸ðµç ÀÌ°¡ ´ç½ÅÀÇ ³ª¶ó·Î µé¾î°¥ °ÍÀ» ¿äûÇϽôÂ(¸¶Å¿À º¹À½¼­ 
8,11; ¸¶¸£ÄÚ º¹À½¼­ 16,15-16; ¿äÇÑ º¹À½¼­ 10,16À» ÂüÁ¶Ç϶ó) ¿¹¼ö´ÔÀÇ ¸»¾¸µéÀº 
±ÛÀÚ ±×´ë·Î(literally) Çؼ®µÇ¾îÁ®¾ß¸¸ ÇÔÀ» ¼±Æ÷ÇÕ´Ï´Ù.

Alternate 2nd Reading: Titus 2:11-14, 3:4-7

The Incarnation, the Basis of Christian Ethics and Piety
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[2:11] For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, [12] trai-
ning us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright,
and godly lives in this world, [13] awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of
the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, [14] who gave himself for
us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own
who are zealous for good deeds.

[Beloved], [3:4] ... when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior
appeared, [5] he saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness,
but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in
the Holy Spirit, [6] which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ
our Savior, [7] so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in
hope of eternal life.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

2:11-14. This section is almost like a hymn in praise of saving grace and God's
loving kindness as manifested in Christ. The terse, sober style, with phrases
piled on one another, and very few verbs, is typical of St. Paul. The duties just
described (2L1-10)--of older men, women, young people and slaves--all point to
Christians' having a common lifestyle, which is the fruit of grace. God is the
source of that grace, and salvation its goal, and it is given to us through Jesus
Christ.

Thus, divine grace manifested in the Incarnation is actively at work to redeem us;
it brings salvation; it sanctifies us, enabling us to live godly lives; and it is the ba-
sis of our hope in the second coming of the Lord. All these dimensions of the ac-
tion of grace summarize revealed doctrine on righteousness (justification) in Jesus
Christ. Thus, in the Incarnation, God's salvific will, embracing all men, is manifes-
ted in a special way (cf. 1 Tim 2:4); in the Redemption, Christ, the only Mediator
and Savior (cf. 1 Tim 2:5) obtains for us the gift of grace, whereby man becomes
a sharer in the good things of salvation. Jesus is our model; by means of grace
he instructs the Christian on how to control his defects and grow in virtue. The 
instruction we receive is not only an external one: God inwardly moves us to seek
holiness (cf. Rom 5:1-5 and note). Grace also channels our hope, for Christians
are motivated not only by the memory of a past event (our Lord's life on earth) but
also, and especially, by the fact that Jesus is in the glory of heaven even now and
that we are invited to share his inheritance (cf. 2 Pet 3:12-13).

13. "The glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ": an explicit confession
of faith in the divinity of Jesus Christ, who is stated at one and at the same time
(with only one article in the original Greek) to be God and Savior. This expres-
sion is the hinge on which the entire hymn turns: Jesus Christ our God is the one
who came at the Incarnation, who will manifest himself fully at his second coming,
and who through his work of redemption has made it possible for man to live a live
pleasing to God.

This verse is reminiscent of Romans 9:5, where St. Paul wrote: "to them belong
the patriarchs, and of their race according to the flesh is the Christ, who is God
over all, blessed for ever. Amen."

14. The mention of Jesus Christ at the end of the previous verse leads St. Paul to
summarize the doctrine of the Redemption in this lovely passage. Four essential
elements in redemption are listed: Christ's self-giving; redemption from all iniquity;
purification; and Christ's establishment of a people of his own dedicated to good
deeds. The reference to Christ's self-giving clearly means whereby we are set free
from the slavery of sin; Christ's sacrifice is the cause of the freedom of the chil-
dren of God (analogously, God's action during the Exodus liberated the people
of Israel). Purification, a consequence of redemption, enables a man to become
part of God's own people (cf. Ezek 37-23). The expression "a people of his own"
is a clear allusion to Exodus 19:5: through the covenant of Sinai God made Israel
his own people, different from other nations; through the New Covenant of his
blood Jesus forms his own people, the Church, which is open to all nations: "As
Israel according to the flesh which wandered in the desert was already called the
Church of God, so, too, the new Israel, which advances in this present era in
search of a future and permanent city, is called also the Church of Christ. It is
Christ indeed who has purchased it with his own blood; he has filled it with his
Spirit; he has provided means adapted to its visible and social union [...]. Des-
tined to extend to all regions of the earth, it enters into human history, though it
transcends at once all times and all racial boundaries" ("Lumen Gentium", 9).

[T]he coming of Christ has opened up a new panorama (vv. 4-7). As elsewhere in
these letters (cf. 1 Tim 3:15; Tit 2:11-14), we have here a hymn to Christ which
may well have come from primitive Christian liturgy or from a confession of faith.
It summarizes Christian teaching on the Incarnation, the Redemption and the
application of salvation to the individual.

According to this text, the Incarnation is the revelation of God our Savior, who
makes known his goodness ("benignity", a word which often occurs in the Old
Testament and sometimes in the New: cf. Rom 2:4; 11: 22; Gal 5:22; Eph 2:7)
and "loving goodness" (literally "philanthropy", a word taken from Greek). The
Redemption is referred to in Old Testament language: "he saved us in virtue of
his own mercy."

Finally, the Christian's access to salvation is something gratuitous: without any
prior merit on our part, God's mercy has sought us out (v. 5; cf. note on Rom
:27-31); Baptism is the door to salvation, for it is the sacrament of "regeneration
and renewal" (cf. Eph 5:26); the Holy Spirit sent by Christ (cf. Jn 14:26) makes
the waters of Baptism effective; his grace gives life to the soul and entitles it to
eternal life (cf. Gal 4:7; Rom 8:16-17). The Council of Trent specified that "justifi-
cation is not only the remission of sins, but sanctification and renovation of the
interior man through the voluntary reception of grace and gifts whereby a man
becomes just instead of unjust and a friend instead of an enemy, that he may
be an heir in the hope of life everlasting" ("De Iustificatione", chap. 7).

The magnificent resume of faith in Christ contained in Titus 3:3-7 also helps
Christians see how to approach their work and social involvement; the Second
Vatican Council has reminded us once again that "the promised and hoped-for
restoration has already begun in Christ. It is carried forward in the sending of the
Holy Spirit and through him continues in the Church in which, through our faith,
we learn the meaning of our earthly life, while we bring to term, with hope of
future good, the task allotted to us in the world by the Father, and so work out
our salvation" ("Lumen Gentium", 48).

Gospel Reading: Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

The Preaching of John the Baptist (Continuation)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
[15] As the people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their hearts
concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ, [16] John answered them
all, "I baptize you with water; but He who is mightier than I is coming, the thong
of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit
and with fire.

Jesus Is Baptized
--------------------------
[21] Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been bap-
tized and was praying, the heaven was opened, [22] and the Holy Spirit descen-
ded upon Him in bodily form, as a dove, and a voice came from Heaven, "Thou
art My beloved Son; with Thee I am well pleased."

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

15-17. Using excessive imagery, John announces Christian Baptism, proclaiming
that he is not the Messiah; He, who is on His way, will come with the authority
of supreme Judge that belongs to God, and with the dignity of the Messiah, who
has no human equal.

21-22. In its liturgy the Church remembers the first three solemn manifestations
of Christ's divinity--the adoration of the Magi (Mt 2:11), the baptism of Jesus (Lk
3:21-22; Mt 3:13-17; Mk 1:9-11) and the first miracle of our Lord worked, at the
wedding at Cana (Jn 2:11). In the adoration of the Magi God revealed the divinity
of Jesus by means of the star. At His baptism the voice of God the Father, co-
ming "from heaven", reveals to John the Baptist and to the Jewish people -- and
thereby to all men--this profound mystery of Christ's divinity. At the wedding at
Cana, Jesus "manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him" (Jn 2:11).
"When He attained to the perfect age," St Thomas Aquinas comments, "when
the time came for Him to teach, to work miracles and to draw men to himself,
then was it fitting for His Godhead to be attested to from on high by the Father's
testimony, so that His teaching might be the more credible: 'The Father who
sent Me has Himself borne witness to Me' (Jn 5:37)" ("Summa Theologiae", III,
q. 39, a. 8 ad 3).

21. In Christ's baptism we can find a reflection of the way the sacrament of Bap-
tism affects a person. Christ's baptism was the exemplar of our own. In it the
mystery of the Blessed Trinity was revealed, and the faithful, on receiving Bap-
tism are consecrated by the invocation of and by the power of the Blessed Trini-
ty. Similarly, Heaven opening signifies that the power, the effectiveness, of this
sacrament comes from above, from God, and that the baptized have the road to
Heaven opened up for them, a road which Original Sin closed had closed. Jesus'
prayer after His baptism teaches us that "after Baptism man needs to pray con-
tinually in order to enter Heaven; for though sins are remitted through Baptism,
there still remains the inclination to sin which assails us from within, and also
the flesh and the devil which assails us from without" (St Thomas, "ibid.", III, q.
39, a. 5).
¡¡

*********************************************************************************************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States. We encourage readers to purchase
The Navarre Bible for personal study. See Scepter Publishers for details.


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