It has been said that a prophet is someone who “comforts the disturbed and disturbs the comfortable.” This saying describes well both Isaiah in our first reading and Jesus in today’s Gospel. Isaiah “comforts the disturbed,” Israel suffering in Exile in Babylon. The prophet Isaiah or one of his disciples is given a new mission, one of comfort and hope: “Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Speak to the heart of Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service has ended…” (Isaiah 40:1-2). In today’s reading Isaiah speaks new words of comfort and hope: “Lo, I am about to create a new heaven and a new earth; The things of the past shall not be remembered or come to mind. Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create; For I create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight; I will rejoice in Jerusalem and exult in my people.”
Israel returned from Exile and rejoiced as the Temple was rebuilt and they gathered in joy and prayer in the courtyard of the Temple. Christians have come to see this vision of comfort and hope also fulfilled in the mission and message of Jesus who brings a new encounter with God who loves all people and longs to save all people.
In today’s Gospel Jesus as a prophet and more than a prophet both “disturbs the comfortable” and “comforts the disturbs.” Jesus disturbs or challenges his own people: “For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his native place…Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” Jesus also comforts the royal official by healing his son: “You may go; your son will live.”
As we hear the word of God today let it be both words of comfort and challenge, words that prophetically disturb us if we are too comfortable but also words that comfort us if we are disturbed and heavily burdened. Jesus gives us this invitation: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Matthew 11:28-30).
Image: “<div class=’fn’> Church of Panagia tou Arakos, nave, center bay, drum, wall paintings, Lagoudera, Cyprus – Prophet Gideon, detail of head</div>” by Byzantine Institute staff is marked with CC0 1.0.