Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Isaiah 38:1-6.21-22.7-8; Matthew 12:1-8)
Hezekiah has been a reform-minded king. He prohibited worship of pagan gods in Judah
and tried to reestablish the Temple in Jerusalem as the central cultic place for
all Israelites after the fall of the Northern Kingdom. The first reading today shows the Lord taking
to heart the cry of this good leader.
A characteristic of the prophetic message is God’s
openness to His people. He could change His
plan if the people turn back to him. This
phenomenon is seen in today’s passage from Isaiah. The prophet tells Hezekiah to prepare for
death, but when the king utters his heart-felt plea that God take into account
his faithful service, the Lord changes His mind. As God’s loyal messenger, Isaiah does not
seem chagrined at all to report this turn of events.
We also should look to God for deliverance when all
appears lost. Particularly when it seems
that our sins are causing our downfall, we should petition God for mercy. Of course, God expects our repentance to be
sincere and may not grant exactly what we ask.
Nevertheless, we can count on Him for help.
