Come and see: the witness of transformed life
August 16, 2023 - Wednesday, 19th Week in Ordinary Time
Psalm 66:1-3a, 5 and 8, 16-17
[In today’s episode of our podcast, we are going to mediate on Psalm 66 that invites us to celebrate God’s salvation in the lives of His people.
Psalm 66 resounds with an invitation for the entire world to unite in praise, celebrating the glory of God's name and the incredible deeds performed by Him. One notable event referenced by the psalmist is the Exodus from Egypt, where God miraculously parted the sea, enabling the liberated Israelites to cross to freedom (Ps 66:2-6).
At the core of Israel's faith lies the powerful story of their deliverance from the oppressive grip of the Egyptian Empire, a narrative meticulously documented in the early chapters of the book of Exodus. This significant event continues to be commemorated annually during the Passover festival by religious Jews. The Exodus account reverberates within Christianity as well, with the Church Fathers interpreting various elements as symbolic representations. In their eyes, Egypt represents sin, Pharaoh embodies the devil, Moses acts as the prefiguration of Jesus, and the waters of the Red Sea symbolize baptism.
In the first reading of today's liturgy, Joshua, son of Nun, assumes leadership following Moses' passing, guiding God's people toward the Promised Land (Deut. 34:1-12). Notably, Joshua's name translates to Jesus in Greek, providing the Church Fathers with yet another affirmation that the Old Testament foreshadows Jesus Christ, the culmination of all prophecies. Joshua, the son of Nun, led Israel to their earthly Promised Land, while Jesus, the only begotten Son of the Father, has opened the way to the true Promised Land, offering salvation from the clutches of sin and an abundance of life.
The psalmist extends an invitation to "come and see" the marvellous works of God among His people (Ps 66:5), echoing the words of Jesus to His initial disciples, "Come and see" (John 1:39). These words also evoke the beloved disciple who hastened to the empty tomb, seeing and believing in the resurrection (John 20:8). The death and resurrection of Jesus, proclaimed by the Church to all humanity, stands as God's greatest work. In His triumph, death is conquered, sin is cleansed, and new life springs forth.
Following the exhortation to "come and see," the psalmist reveals the intention to recount what the Lord has done for him (Ps 66:16). One of the two disciples who spent precious time with Jesus, from morning until 4 p.m., was the author of the Gospel of John. In his Gospel, Saint John not only shares what the Lord did for him but also chronicles the transformative impact Jesus had on countless others and humanity as a whole. This written testimony serves to inspire belief in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, and through that belief, to attain life in His name (John 20:31).
At the core of the Christian faith lies the testimony of individuals who have encountered Jesus and experienced remarkable transformations in their lives. Their firsthand experiences of God's tremendous deeds serve as irrefutable evidence. These credible witnesses, radiating love, peace, and joy, become influential and effective missionaries who draw others to Jesus Christ, exemplifying the power of a transformed life.