BEHOLD, MY SERVANT
A bruised reed he will not break; a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory.
In today's Gospel
of Matthew we read: this was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the
prophet:
"Behold, my
servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my
Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not
contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised
reed he will not break; a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings
justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope."
Today the Church
honors Saint Camillus De Lellis, priest. These Gospel terms, "gain the
world, lose your soul" are very familiar. The allure of the good life can
tear us away from values and relationships. Camillus was addicted to gambling.
He lost the shirt on his back and stripped of everything, he fell to his knees
and begged heaven for mercy - and got it. He had a conversion and dedicated
himself to the care of the sick. He died at Rome in 1614.
Behold my servant
whom I have chosen!