Readings: Is 8.23 \u200b\u200bb-9, 3 / Ps 26 / 1 Cor 1,10-13.17 / Mt from 4.12 to 23
AND THE HORN LIGHT
Behold, the Lord comes to take upon himself the sin of the world. It chooses to do so in a surprising way, beautiful. It takes at last start reading Matthew's Gospel, on Sundays in Ordinary Time, we will savor the good news of "God with us" (Matthew 1:23). A strong news like the sound of a horn, shining like the light of a torch.
On the day of Midian
As soon as you know "that John was arrested, Jesus retreats" in the Galilee (Mt 4:12), precisely "in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali" (4:13), a border region defined, with some contempt, "Galilee of the Gentiles" (4:15). This part of the northern kingdom of Israel had become, after the invasion of the Assyrians and the deportation of two people (732/721 BC), a crossroads of cultures, religious traditions, languages \u200b\u200band races, a world-like complex on the outskirts of our cities, similar to the cultural periphery is the time in which we live. The Lord Jesus chose to begin right here the proclamation of the Gospel! Not only because it is close to "Nazareth" (4:13), where he grew up, but also because here the words of the prophets are the best implementation. The evangelist Matthew in fact reads the beginning of the preaching of Jesus through an oracle of Isaiah, which announces the redemption in every suburb and every "dark earth" (Is 9:1) through the action of God: "Because you broken the yoke that oppressed him, the bar on his shoulders, and the rod of their oppressor, as in the day of Midian "(9.3). The name indicates the Midianites Midian, a strong people and feared at the time when Israel reached the Promised Land after the Exodus from slavery in Egypt. The Israelites were so oppressed by this opponent who had to live in caves and caverns (Judges 6). Finally, through the valiant Gideon Israel one day find the courage to rebel. But the army is in the eyes of God, even too large. Thirty-two thousand men of the Lord makes only three hundred remain, because the people do not brag, thinking to be the author of the victory (Judges 7.2). To achieve the improbable victory Gedeone ago surround the camp of Midian, giving each a horn and a torch hidden in an empty jug. At the sound of horns, the pitchers are broken, and when suddenly shines the light of torches, the Midianites are in panic, beginning "to run, screaming, to flee" (7:21). In the chaos that is created, "the Lord gave to each man's sword against his companion throughout the camp" (7:22). Israel is thus able to defeat the enemy without lifting a finger!
Horn
Jesus borrows this episode and it applies to himself, to what he is about to turn in favor of "those who lived in the region and shadow of death" (Matt. 4:16). His voice is indeed powerful and loud, as Jewish shofar announcing the celebration of God: "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (4:17). These words are like a cry that can scare off the enemies within ourselves first. We always too focused on what we are and we seem, what we do and produce, on results achieved and goals yet to be tracked. We simply too self-centered to be able to change their outlook on things, to realize that something - or rather someone - continuously takes the initiative to us. We, too busy building the next dose of pseudofelicità to note that - in the meantime - you put God to walk beside us, putting his kingdom at hand. The sound of the gospel overloading our complacency, because there is not something we announced that we did or we can finally turn our lives. But something that God has done and will do. Something that we realize, if we accept to stop and turn his gaze.
The pitcher and the torch
The horn alone is not enough. We also need the pitcher and the torch to run away the darkness of night. They seem to have understood well the first disciples, called a two by two - called brothers - who left "the nets" (4:20), "the boat and their father and followed him" (4:22). They were all intent on everyday things, in the daily chores, when suddenly the light of the Gospel tells them that the meaning of their lives may be far greater, "Come after me, I will make you fishers of men" (4.19). As the pitchers that hid the torch around the camp of the Midianites, they too get caught up, and break the light of a new life is in them. The word of God is a force capable of breaking The pitcher who holds the true light hidden in us. This light is required to address the adventure of life. Without it we find it hard to remember that God is our Father, to see who around us like a brother to be at peace with the past, not to fear the present and the future. But when its glory gives peace to the heart and guide the journey, we realize that life is not a nightmare but a dream, that our destiny is not called loneliness, but possible "union of thought and feeling" (1 Cor 1, 10) with others, our brothers and sisters in humanity. In this dream we all share, all capable of. Simply - as Israel did against Midian - reduce the army of the answers which always attacked the reality, rather than listen. And then have the courage to give up some battles, and to discover what God is like a brave warrior who fought alongside us. A faithful friend, who is and who is always "close" to our humanity.
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