Say to the fainthearted: “Take courage and fear not! Behold, your God will bring the vindication of retribution. God himself will arrive to save you. (Is 35:4)
אִמְרוּ֙ לְנִמְהֲרֵי־לֵ֔ב חִזְק֖וּ אַל־תִּירָ֑אוּ הִנֵּ֤ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ נָקָ֣ם יָבֹ֔וא גְּמ֣וּל אֱלֹהִ֔ים ה֥וּא יָבֹ֖וא וְיֹשַׁעֲכֶֽם
Dicite pusillanimis: Confortamini, et nolite timere: ecce Deus vester ultionem adducet retributionis: Deus ipse veniet, et salvabit vos.
παρακαλέσατε, οἱ ὀλιγόψυχοι τῇ διανοίᾳ· ἰσχύσατε, μὴ φοβεῖσθε· ἰδοὺ ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν κρίσιν ἀνταποδίδωσιν καὶ ἀνταποδώσει, αὐτὸς ἥξει καὶ σώσει ἡμᾶς.
To take courage! (חָזַק ḥāzaq), in Hebrew is the imperative form of the verb חָזַק (ḥāzaq), which means “to be strong, powerful, courageous”, “to become stronger”, “to insist”, “to prevail”, “to strive”, “to be stubborn”, “to persist”. Some scholars believe that the verb originally meant “to wrap tightly” and “to surround”.
The prophecy of Isaiah, in today’s First Reading (Is 35:4-7), addressed to those who have lost all hope of liberation, have “weak hands and weak knees”, announces the coming of a saviour, and a very special Saviour. Isaiah says that the moment of liberation is coming and that the Saviour will be none other than God himself: “Take courage and fear not! Behold, your God will bring the vindication of retribution. God himself will arrive to save you”. Among the signs that will accompany his coming, there is also a total transformation: then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf will be opened.
Such a new and wonderful opening is made by Jesus, of whom today’s Gospel speaks (Mk 7:31-37). Opening the ears of the deaf-mute is the sign that Jesus is the Messiah announced by the prophet. Therefore, those who follow Jesus can have such great trust in Him that becomes strength and power, because they are surrounded by the Divine power acting in Jesus.
